A foot fetish?........Nope, just lusting for comfort.

I have been through Nordstroms several times, but my pocketbook could not meet their standards at the time. A friend who has size 12 feet, was telling about sales and nice shoes that she was able to catch during lunchtime shopping. Being a size 9.5 wide, I usually have to go up to size 10, so I was naturally intrigued. I checked their site, but after browsing, I felt that Zappos.com is still the best choice for me. But I did see these Geox brand shoes on the Nordstorm's site and after reading about them, I definitely want a pair of the Geox ´Connection´ Slip-ons and the Mary Jane styles. I like shoes that are breatheable along with being comfortable. I just wish that they had them in Navy Blue and some pastel shades also. I could go for some in Tan, Pink, and Lime Green. I could see the exasperated grimaces on my teenagers' faces now if I walked in with some Lime Green shoes that were not flip flops.

"That is just not cool, Mom.........."

While I am in the consumer lusting mode, I have also been drooling over this semi formal top at Alight.com.

The fabric is not my favorite, and I wish that I could find a similar or exact pattern so I could reproduce the top in some fabric that I have my eye on. I have been looking, and found one (Kwick SEW #3334) that is close to it, but still have my eyes open for another example. But I love the design and cut of this blouse/jacket because it reminds me of the fashions from the 1980's "Dynasty" TV show. For fun, I imagine myself as an Alexis Carrington or Dominuque Devereux clone, strutting in a snazzy suit and telling certain folks to "kiss her azzzzzzzz!" I still wonder whatever happen to Pamela Bellwood?

Not only is the coach a Woman, but she is a Sistah!

I do not keep up with high school sports as I once did, but I found this story really inspiring............

Dale G. Young/The Detroit News

Keisha Brown of Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart became the first woman to lead a team to the Michigan high school state finals.

Woman's touch benefits Irish

Coach won't take credit for team's run

March 26, 2006
By Terry Foster, Detroit News

EAST LANSING -- History slipped through her fingers. But Keisha Brown wanted to make sure the accomplishment of playing in the Class D state final did not.

Brown failed to become the first woman to coach a boys basketball team to a Michigan state championship on Saturday. In the aftermath of Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart Academy's 65-51 loss to Wyoming Tri-Unity Christian in the title game, Brown grabbed some of her seniors and reminded them of the great run they had enjoyed.

She wanted them to get through the pain of losing and embrace the moment of accepting their championship medals and the runner-up trophy.

She talked to senior center Pat Theisen during a long embrace and reinforced the positives of a long, successful season. Brown thought it was more important to go out the same way she came in three seasons ago -- making sure to stress the positives and brush away the negatives.

Brown did not chase history. She simply embraced a team and hung on for a magic carpet ride that put Sacred Heart (25-2) in its first championship game in 31 years.

It seemed as if history chased her and she was a reluctant participant. She kept downplaying her role as a woman who was leading boys.

She wanted the spotlight on her players.

"If I did not downplay this we would not be here today," Brown said. "As a coach you should not be in the spotlight. The kids should be because they are the ones who are out on the floor and playing the game -- not you. This is not about me. It is a story for everyone else. It is a story in society for the young women to look at and be motivated."

Actually we did get a slice of history, just not the whole pie. Brown became the first woman to coach a boys team in the Michigan state finals. But she failed to become the fourth woman in United States high school basketball history to win a title.

(Rest of the story is at: The Detroit News.com)

Inspiration from the the past via the fire.....

I am finally scanning in old family pictures given to me by my mother. As I go through them, I realize many are lost, damaged beyond repair, or were taken by other siblings. I also realize as I go through the pictures that we have, the majority of them were actually taken by other family members and friends. My folks were not much on keeping a camera. I guess that keeping a roof over our heads was a struggle enough. I had a passing interest in photography as a teen, but lost most of the pictures I had taken to a flood in 1986. I had moved away from home, and a younger sister moved my box of stuff to the basement when she claimed the bedroom closet. Two years later high winds swept the water over the canals along the border between Detroit and Grosse Pointe and the neighborhood was flooded for a week. I understood then why the electrical box was up in the kitchen instead of the basement like most homes.

Along with my pictures, I lost my journals that chronicled my years between middle school and high school. I was so angry at her as I salvaged what I could, but knew that I should have removed the box when I got my apartment. But as I look at things now, I am reminded that God works in mysterious ways. Last year the same sister lost almost of her pictures when the Piquette Plaza burned down last June. She had moved and still had some furniture and items stored there along with many other folks in Detroit. Several Detroit Public schools along with other prominent organizations lost valuable items, like vintage cars, stage props, band instruments and uniforms. I felt really bad for them and her, because she lost most of her children's baby pictures and many of those items can not be replaced.

However it did motivated me to start scanning all the photos that I had and that my mother had entrusted to me. I am glad and very grateful that some members of my extended family believed in documenting family events. As the old saying goes, "Why put off tomorrow, that can be done today?" I hope to be finished by the end of April and be able to give my siblings a CD of the pictures. I plan to make my mother and myself a picture album. Here are some early childhood pictures of me. I do remember that it was a carefree time for me at that time compared to now. I don't know if I was a precocious child but my mother indicated that I was a natural caretaker of my two brothers. I do know that once the second group of children came along, I felt that I had no choice; the responsibility was was thrust on me. However as we adults siblings talk now, it is gratifying to hear that they were glad to have me as an older sister who was there for them, and came through when they needed.

What is your idea of the dream/fantasy dinner party?

Yesterday, I watched a rerun of The Oprah Show. In this episode, she was doing makeovers with Naomi Campbell and Iman, two of the top black models in the world. She showed a clip of them at her "Legends" weekend. It was interesting to see the younger generation interacting with her idol, almost gushing like a school girl. I was reminded of a piece that I had written. I had wrote this back in November 2003 for a writing seminar that I was participating in. After Oprah hosted that "Legends who Lunch" party/weekend for some memorable inspiration women, I had to retrieve this from my files after reading the article in the 2005 August issue. I do believe that when I was writing this piece back in 2003, I must have been on a psychic wave length as the planning was going on. After reading the article, I wished that I could have been there invisibly, observing the interaction in the gathering, and soaking up every minute.

What is your idea of the ultimate dinner party?


Yesterday, I came across the writer BeBe Moore Campbell’s website and in her interview page, she is asked what would be her ideal of the ultimate dinner party. As expected, she is having the party at her house with a down home menu, featuring fried chicken, candied yams, collard greens, corn bread, mashed potatoes and gravy, lemonade, with pound cake for dessert. My tongue became excited as my eyes read the menu. She indicates:

“This is girl's night out. My guests are: Harriet Tubman, liberator of slaves and union spy; Mary McLeod Bethune, founder of an historically black college immediately after the civil war; Madam C. J. Walker, early twentieth century entrepreneur and philanthropist who perfected the straightening comb, developed door-to-door sales as a means of reaching her market, and created the modern beauty industry for black women; Billie Holiday, the incomparable jazz singer; and Katherine Dunham, a dancer who developed dance techniques that showcased African and Caribbean-inspired movements………………. I'll ask the women how they had the courage to accomplish what they did. I'll ask them how they got over the roughest times of their lives. I wouldn't play any games. I'd ask each of the women to say a prayer.”

After I read the guest list, I knew that if I were to have a similar ultimate all girls’ dinner party, I would have to definitely spice things up by also having some black women of the past along with some prominent women of the present. Coming from a big family, there would be no small intimate dinner party for me! It would have to be a very diverse crowd, with folks from very different worlds! I would have to include some Indian, Oriental, French, African and vegetarian dishes to BeBe Moore Campbell’s original menu. Although I would have Madam C. J. Walker and Mary McCloud Bethune too, I would have to add at least thirty or more women from vastly different backgrounds. I would love to also have:

Shirley Chisholm Maya Angelou Bell Hooks Carolyn Mazloomi Fannie Lou Hammer Ida B. Wells-Barnett Vanessa E. Williams Zora Neale Hurston Florence Griffith Joyner Alice Walker Barbara Jordan Josephine Baker Julie Dash Alfre Woodard Audre Lorde Pearl Cleage Dorothy Height	Oprah Winfrey Sister Souljah Julieanne Malveaux Whoopi Goldberg Sarah Vaughan Aretha Franklin Angela Davis Leontyne Price Marian Wright Edelman Mae Jemison Pam Grier Mary Frances Berry Mother Hale Tina Turner Faith Ringgold Suzanne DePasse Farai Chideya

After looking at my guest list, I realized that I would be having more of a “Wild Women Party” that would take place during a weekend. That would be a weekend of eating, singing, dancing, gossiping, with serious and lively discussion and debate. We definitely would laugh, but I know for sure, some tears would be shed. I would definitely have a large circular table for everyone to sit, and we would have a ball.

I would still keep Ms. Campbell’s original questions, but I would also like to ask them:

“What were their regrets? And what advice would they would give to the female leaders, young girls, the young women, and the mothers of today?”


Of course, Oprah would start off as moderator, but after a while, she would have to pass the mike to Farai Chideya, who is a upcoming and proven journalist/author in her own right. I want to hear the questions that Alice Walker would ask of Zora regarding her experience being a writer and her experience in the Harlem Renaissance. I would like to hear what Zora Neale Hurston would say to Alice Walker regarding her research/writing that represented Zora’s history. I'll love to see Tina and Josephine kick up those legs and sing together, while Sarah and Aretha bebopped and scatted. Leontyne’s arias could make our spirits rise as Vanessa’s lovely melodies warm our hearts. Faith Ringgold and Carolyn Mazloomi would show us how to claim and regain our creative side. And although there may be that would strongly disagree, Bell Hooks, Florence Griffith Joyner, Sister Souljah and Audre Lorde could definitely remind us how love, persistence, compassion, and education can improve women of today when Self Value is taught early.

Alfre, Pam, Julie, Suzanne, Vannessa, and Whoopi could tell us what they envisioned for Black Hollywood in the future, while Dorothy Height, Shirley Chisholm, Barbara Jordan and Fannie Lou Hammer can teach us about coalition building. Angela Davis, Mary Frances Berry, Julieanne Malveaux and Marian Wright Edelman would remind us of how far we have come and how much ground we have lost in regards to our Civil rights, economic growth, and the development of our children. Although they may be from the past, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Madam C. J. Walker and Mary McCloud Bethune can still teach us how persistence still prevails. Being among our elder stateswomen, Mother Hale and Maya Angelou would remind us that it takes a village to raise a child, along with dignity and instilled values is the basis of a loving community.

by SM, November 2003

Chilling and getting a change of scenery

Starting last month, I recently took a time out from working.
Most of my friends and family think I am crazy for doing so at this time,
but I needed a change and a break.

Many have kept their opinions tothemselves, but I can tell via somefacial
expressions and the careful choice of words that they are worried or not
too comfortable with the decision.  The bottom line is that as long as I
remain self-sufficient and maintain my current lifestyle, they should not
have anything to worry about.

I did not do much this week. I lazied around, hung out with one of my oldest friends for a while, went to the dentist twice, slept a lot, and did get rid of some paper and magazines. Just remembered that I had paid for a membership to Cosco's back in January, and went up in there last night. It is so easy to lose your mind up in that store and I definitely see how so Americans are overweight, including me when those options are available. I did get some muffins, crackers, juice, water, oranges and some other items and did spend about $60.00. I think for me, it is best that I go there when I am having a family gathering or ready to buy certain items in bulk.

My children and I going to Chicago for the weekend in a couple of hours . My niece, whom I have guardianship of, decided yesterday that she did not want to go. At first I was going to make her go, but since she had a test, I decided to let her stay. I did informed her that she better not let no one in nor do anything crazy. But I think that I am going to have my sister keep an eye on her, possibly spend the night also.

Who am I? An abundantly blessed person that needs to double check her spelling.

Who am I?

I am a daughter, a sister, a mom, an aunt, a teacher, a student, a dreamer, a procrastinator, and still a girl that loves sewing, nurturing, reading & writing, and the music of the 80's.

As I write this, I am listening to OMD, Tears for Fears, A-Ha, The Eurythmics, Duran Duran, The Bangles, and Howard Jones. My teenage children groan and grumble that the music is too "bouncy" for them. I remind them that in comparison to their rap music, it is clean, without profanity, which they hate to hear coming out of my mouth. Yes, they view me as someone that is rough around the edges but they do know that I love them deeply, and that I could have worse habits.

I guess my proclivity for tunes of the Eighties allows me to briefly relive my youth, early independence and freedom. It was the time of all weekend partying, spur of the moment trips, carefree living, and falling in and out of love. I graduated from high school at the beginning and married at the end of that decade. Given a chance to go back in time, I would do things differently, but would never opt out of those times. Even if offered money, I would not trade that decade for any other.