So Grateful

Just wanted to share a little bit of my joy after a long week!

Have a great weekend!

Loving the Child Superstars on Youtube

I saw a friend post the video below and you how it goes...you start looking at more!  I just wanted to share these with you.

Dreamy John Legend

Mr. Legend has done it again.  He gave a very motivational speech about using the power and knowledge obtained with a college degree to better the world.  I know that John Legend is very passionate about education reform which was part of his speech, but for me I was glad to hear him promote the importance of life-long learning.  Things don't change over night and you can never have too much knowledge/information on the subject of your passion.  I believe that my generation and those following us have lost a passion for learning altogether and it reflects in the lack of civic engagement.  But I digress.  On to the extra good stuff...his performance.

I was lucky last year to see John Legend after the private screening of the documentary Waiting for Superman this time last year.  To this day, I have not seen anything more sexy then this man alone at a piano sharing that voice.  It was really an intimate show. And he did again tonight at the University of Kentucky (UK). 

Taken by me at a California performance in 2010.

 So I was trying to trying to upload the audio for the closing number. Ordinary People.  No such luck, but I thought you might want to see a video of him performing it live! 

Thanks for reading!

Back into the Music

 

Lucky me, I get to see John Legend tonight.  I'll share with you all when I get back!

Do you rememba...

 ...the 21st night of September?!  I've been an old school R&B and Funk kind of day!  

In listening to this song, I remember the a Labor Day family reunion/surprise birthday party for my grandmom's 80th.  That was was a weekend where I met a lot of my family for the first time and learned that we all really do look a alike, l0l.

What great memory do you have attached to a a random day of the year?

Great Day with Grupo Aché

Today was a great day!  There were no headaches and everything for my first official program was a big hit.  I was able to bring this band called Grupo Aché from Louisville to Morehead for the Hispanic Heritage Month Kick Off.  They played live Timba, Salsa, and Merengue music for two hours and anyone who came into the student center today had no way of saying that MSU doesn't have anything to offer! 

The band was able to get everyone off their butts and on the dance floor.  There was event a music student who got to perform a solo with the band playing the congas!

It really was a great day!  And I can't wait to bring them back to MSU!

Thanks for reading.

Missing Picture

Here's the picture I told you I was going to post from the Anthony David concert that I went to here.

Me and my Sorors with Anthony David in San Diego!

Thanks For Reading!

Getting Back on Track

In January I posted my 11 goals for 2011 here.  Well I've accomplished some of those goals such as graduating, increasing the blogging, and throwing an outstanding baby shower.  Something else that I've been able to accomplish is attending more live entertainment.  Last week I had a great opportunity to see the artist Anthony David perform live at this spot called Anthology in downtown San Diego.  It is such a cool spot.  It's a lounge/restaurant that caters to a wide variety of interests.  At the end of the month they're having Chante Moore and on the 13th of July India.Arie!

This weekend I have an opportunity for more live music as I've been invited to attend the Playboy Jazz Festival!  Don't worry it starts at 3pm and I'm going with my good friend and Soror Ashley.  So with that pictures are coming soon.  For now you can see more of Anthony David and his amazing talents below.

P.S. I Love You!

Can I just say that I was meant to live in the South...at least I think so, l0l.  After graduation, my mother provided me with an early graduation gift of paying for a plane ticket for me to go to Houston for my LS's (Line Sister) baby shower and for a graduation of a good friend.  First was the graduation. 

Congratulations to Dr. Frank North, Pharm.D. Texas Southern University class of 2011!  I am so proud of this man.  It took him quite some time, at no fault of his own, but he made that journey across the stage and I was screaming my but off!  TSU is a HBCU, so I was so proud to see so many of my brothas and sistas getting their degrees.

After the graduation, I went with Frank to his celebration lunch that his family threw for him.  We went to Wyatt's Cafeteria.  I was so excited to get some local food...I had Popeye's when I got off the plane, l0l.  The food at Wyatt's was fresh and wasn't heavy at all.  Because I'm trying to get my sexy right, I went with the healthier options of backed chicken, a whole wheat role, and a fruit salad.

After lunch was the baby shower.  Unfortunately, it wasn't what I wanted for my LS but she was happy that there were people there to support her and just love on her.  All I have to say is, don't volunteer to host a baby shower if you don't have the time or the means to do it right. 

 

Back to the regularly scheduled program.  

So because I wasn't able to make a pit stop before I got to the shower, I had to give my LS the gifts I brought when we got back to her apartment.  The next day we went on an errand run and I ended up getting her some more things that she was gonna need and more clothes...my baby has to be fitted!

The night of the shower I got my first taste of the Houston nightlife.  I must say that I was neither shocked nor disappointed.  The club was more than packed and the atmosphere was decent.  I understand that Houston is a city that puts out a lot of the music in the underground scene and that they definitely have their own swag, but the majority of the music was local artists.  I'm from Cali so some stuff I was feelin, others I could have down with out.

The next day I went out again, but that wasn't a true reflection of going out in Houston so I'm not even going to mention it.  I'll be going back so next time I'll have more to share with you.  The morning that I left my LS, her boyfriend, Frank and I went to the infamous Crack Barrel for breakfast. It was one of the best breakfast's that I've had in a long time and they give you so much food.  I think that it was the way to start my last day.  I ended it by making a pit stop at Frenchie's, a fried chicken place.

Houston keep an eye out.  I'll be back soon enough!

 

Black Consciousness...To be Young, Gifted & Black

As Black History Month comes to an end, I wanted to take this time to reflect on what BHM 2011 has brought me.   As the generations gain more distance from the times of the Civil Rights movements, and the poisonous thoughts that racism is not as big as it once was continues, this history of my people suffers.  Where the griots, or story-tellers, of our ancestors were praised held in high regard, the generations have lost this. 

 I am so appreciative for having previous generations that don't let me forget nor ignore the history of my ancestors.  I know that my elders have high expectations of my peers and I.  I take this challenge seriously and I know that it is important to share the knowledge that I've gained to my peers and future generations.  I'm even thinking of getting another degree in Africa/American Studies...we'll see. 

Until then I leave you with this song by the great Nina Simone called "Young, Gifted, & Black."  This captures my current feelings on the Black Consciousness.  Enjoy!

 

Getting Around the Island

Within the last week I have been blessed in meeting wonderful people who want to help ensure that I have a great experience while I'm here. Wednesday after my staff meeting was over, a few co-workers and I went out for dinner. We weren't really sure of what to eat, but when we came to the conclusion of having food from the DR (Dominican Republic), I was so excited. However plans got changed and we ended up going to this place called JV Tequila's, which specializes in Central American cuisine. Let me tell you, they have the best black beans that I've ever had! They give you huge portions that look more like a plate for 2 and their prices are just as good as the food. I got beans, rice, roasted pork, plantains and an Arizona Mango Ice Tea for $13.00. I had so many left overs that it looked like I ordered a dinner to go!

On Friday I started my weekend right. The weather was gorgeous and let me tell you, when there's good weather the natives take full advantage. I think that it's because they only have good weather and sunshine for 3-4 months of the year. Any who, I went to the North Shore Beach with my Soror and co-worker. The beach isn't like the one back home in San Diego, but it's uniqueness is what I liked about it. The sand was rocky and wasn't the cleanest, but the distance from the shore line and the boardwalk is about 50 yards! Due to the area of New York that I'm in, there were so many plush trees on the other side of the boardwalk. I think that's what got me the most. After spending some time at the beach, my Soror took me to the other a little quaint town called Port Jefferson, just on the other side of Stony Brook. It's a great little port town with lots of small venues in a town with a lot of history.

On Saturday my roommate, two of her co-workers and I headed out to Huntington, NY for dinner and some drinks. We ended up meeting up with one of her college buddies and grabbing a couple of slices of pizza. It was good, but I think that I'll have better pizza when I go to the city this weekend...I'm hoping. But I will admit that it was really cheap - 2 slices and a medium drink was $5. We then walked to a little restaurant bar & club called Dr. Finley's Publick House around the corner from the pizza place. With a $5 cover, we made sure that we stayed to see the band, Hi Def, play a full set. They were really good cover band. They started out a little shaky, but they really got the crowd moving. They are perfect for playing all of the top 40 songs, and I mean ALL top 40. The got my support when they started belting out a popular Usher song.

Monday I took the city bus to the mall and had some fun shopping with my co-worker. I got some great jewelery, some pink lip glosses/stains and some much needed perfume. I will be uploading photos of these and my outfits shortly!