Change, Growth, Opportunity

In the sixth grade my teacher Mr. Johnson wrote in my year book, " Miss Michelle, Remember the golden rule, he who has the gold...makes the rule." he wrote " Have a great Summer in everyone else's year books... In 7th grade Bio, I told Mrs. Reid that I REFUSED to cut up a frog, and I took mine in the back and buried it at Garinger Sr. High School (I had to do three extra credit reports to make up the grade and keep my solid B) I made poster that said, "Animals deserve to rest in piece and not in pieces" and my friend drew this little dead rat and frog for me (I don't draw well) I gave up eating meat, and I listened to Victoria Williams and Michelle Shocked and I was informed. I was liberated. my sr. year of High School I published an article on Censorship and dedicated it to the principle ( I can't even remember her name) that told us to go out in the world and "Produce"..."Produce What? Was I being taught to be a robot, not speak up and have my own opinions" I asked her in her office when she informed that the article that I wrote on condoms couldn't be in the school newspaper, because this was high school...my friend gave birth the day after graduation, go figure.
A few months ago on the way to a business trip in Florida, I saw a couple of LDS missionaries getting ready to hop on planes back to their home towns...I wanted to be funny and so I told them.."don't be shocked when you get home, but just to let you know...things have changed...A Mormon, A Woman, and A Black guy are all running for president." I thought it was funny.
2008 is a time for new opportunities, and much growth...serious changes..not just for me, but for everyone.
February is OVER, and it seems already that so much has happened in two months... I don't know who I will vote for yet...but I like that I can vote...and I like how the year is going so far.. I like how saying that no matter what, this is my year, is making a difference in how I approach each day. hey, they haven't all been great days, and I've already shed some tears, but I am happier on the whole than I've been in AGES... 2008 is GREAT

and now for a public service announcement brought to you by Will.I.AM....

my friend Joshua James will be performing March 14th at Velour Live Music Gallery

Do as I say and not as I Do..um not so much

I studied sociology in school. I wanted to be a therapist and help people and change the world. I still want to somehow make the world a better place, but not as a therapist, but I digress...anyways, I did equine therapy for a few years.. I got certified and was able to be an assistant in this really cool unique form of therapy. Equine therapy is where you use horses in behavior modification..now before you get ahead of yourself, people do not ride the horse in some way to change their behavior, in fact, they don't even touch the horses ( minus the first task) for MONTHS. What happens is the people involved do a series of task with non verbal communication and no physical touch in order to get the horses to respond favorably. It's so neat and so intense..it's amazing to me how much horses act like humans in certain behaviors, my horse especially.. I love Birdie , again I digress...
I taught people that things are choices, you just do them...I say that to my cousins all the time too. I said it to my cousin Rachel just this past Sunday.. and alot in the past as well (Dang Rachel, pay attention, I'm tired of repeating myself) I was always like, there is no try. if you want to do something, you make a decision, a choice to do it, and you make it happen, to say you're going to try is saying that it CAN'T be done, and the only things that are truly impossible are the things we don't attempt to do. "Can't never did" , someone use to say to me...
Well, here is where I realize that I am just like that bratty teacher I had in the 5th grade that to this very minute, I cannot stand.. Ms.Craig UGH, how did I become her I do not know, but she would say stuff, and use that crap line " because I said" (who does that?) and then you would see her do the very thing she told us not to do..(I HATED THAT )
anyways, I have this problem see... I swear.. I swear alot.. I have a potty mouth, I talk like a sailor, I have a mouth I shouldn't kiss my mother with.. It's awful..and if i kept up my swear jar, I'd have enough to buy my cousin Charlotte a trip out here first class , round trip...oh my, it's bad.. and I say, like I tell people not to say.. " I'll try" to stop...hmmm...I'm a hypocrite.. I suck...I'm horrible.. I'm guilt ridden..and right now, at this moment (actually from this afternoon on) I will no longer, that's right, I'm stopping right now (this afternoon) and I am no longer, never again a girl with a potty mouth. I'm not that girl that cusses out the little kids that mosh in her venue, I will no longer be the girl that swears at that little old lady that cuts me off in five o'clock traffic, I'm not going to cuss or fuss if in frustration ..nope, not me...like "orbit", I'm going to have a clean mouth.
I just need to say it, and just do it, and make that decision and stick with, cause if I can't do that, then deep down, I'm saying I don't want to..and I DO, I REALLY DO! I'm not a mean girl, I was just a girl with a potty mouth though..so in closing, I'd like to thank you VERY much to my very good friend who helped me realize what a hypocrite I've been to my sweet cousins, and that I too need to stop giving myself excuses, and easy outs...
So...if I swear, call me on it, and remind me of how bad I felt this afternoon..and give me 28 days (that's how long it takes to form a habit) and I will no longer need the cuss jar..I'll be a swearing free girl, young lady

Broken Record ( Formally Todd's )

I seriously need to get better at blogging.. I'm not going to lie, I feel the pressure of having something totally interesting and informative to say... I read the blogs of my friends and I wish that somehow my life could be just as interesting...and it's not... but the other day I had the best time ever with my friend Mandi and low and behold it is something worth sharing.
Mandi's boyfriend Jacob is the cook at a salt lake city bar called Broken Record ( formally Todd's) and they have a completly Vegaen menu...now I am not one for Tofu, but Jacob did give Mandie a funny look when she told him that I would perfer eggs in my breakfast burrito instead of the tofu that he is known for...so I changed my mind and went with the tofu, since I'm flawed and want to please everyone and sometimes do not think for myself...and...it was good. Um, so yeah I liked it. I didn't finish it, but it was seriously yummy..So this time,it's okay that I didn't do what I wanted to do, but did what someone else thought I should do...now, eating at a bar is not something I do normally, and I know it's not something alot of my friends do either, but if you get the chance, order some thing to go..and eat it somewhere else, but seriously, try Jacob's tofu..it tasted just like eggs, but better.
here is a picture of cute Jake making tufo look like eggs and my cute friend Mandi kissing the cook good bye on our way out..

Black History Month

Me:" Corey on your way to Velour can you do me a HUGE favor?"
Corey." What is it?"
Me. " I got a package delivered and I need you to take it to Velour so no one takes it."
Corey." What is it?"
Me." My hair"
Corey." YOUR HAIR IS ON YOUR FRONT PORCH."
( laughing)
Me." yes, in a box, and so go it, cause it's expensive."
(laughing) Corey" Some dog's probably running down the street with your hair."
Me; " it's in a box."
Corey." Sure, I'll go get your hair off the front porch"
Me." thanks, I'll pick it up tonight"

Did You Know?

To recall and celebrate the positive contributions to our nation made by people of African descent, American historian Carter G. Woodson established Black History Week. The first celebration occured February 12, 1926. For many years, the second week of February was set aside for this celebration to coincide with the birthdays of Black abolitionist/editor Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, as part of the nation's bicentennial, the week was expanded into Black History Month.
Population Distribution

- As of July 1, 2005, there were an estimated 39.7 million black residents in the United States, including those of more than one race. They made up 13.4 percent of the total U.S. population. This figure represents an increase of half a million residents from one year earlier.

- The projected single-race black population of the United States as of July 1, 2050 is 61.4 million. On that date, according to the projection, blacks would constitute 15 percent of the nation's total population.

- The estimated black population of New York on July 1, 2004 was 3.5 million, the highest of any state. Four other states had black populations that surpassed 2 million: Florida, Texas, California and Georgia. About 85,900 blacks were added to Florida's population between July 1, 2003, and July 1, 2004. That is the largest numeric increase of any state in the nation. Georgia and Texas added 61,800 and 45,000, respectively.

- As of July 1, 2004, 59 percent of the District of Columbia's population was identified as black - the highest rate for this race group of any state or state-equivalent in the nation. The District of Columbia was followed by Mississippi (37 percent), Louisiana (33 percent) and Georgia, Maryland and South Carolina (30 percent each).

- 1.4 million blacks lived in Cook County, Ill., as of July 1, 2005. Cook led all the nation's counties in the number of people of this racial category. Broward County, Fla., had the largest numerical increase (17,900) between 2003 and 2004. Los Angeles County, CA., also topped the 1 million mark.

- 31% of the black population was under 18 as of July 1, 2005. At the other end of the spectrum, 8 percent of the black population was 65 or older.
Businesses

- $88.6 billion in revenues for black-owned businesses in 2002, up 24 percent from 1997. The number of black-owned businesses totaled 1.2 million in 2002, up by 45 percent since 1997. Black-owned firms accounted for 5 percent of all nonfarm businesses in the United States.

- 129,329: The number of black-owned firms in New York in 2002, which led all states. New York City alone had 98,080 such firms, which led all cities.

- 10,716: The number of black-owned firms operating in 2002 with receipts of $1 million or more. These firms accounted for 1 percent of the total number of black-owned firms in 2002 and 55 percent of their total receipts, or $49 billion.

- 969: The number of black-owned firms with 100 or more employees in 2002. Firms of this size accounted for 24 percent of the total revenue for black owned employer firms in 2002, or $16 billion.
Education

- 80% of blacks age 25 and older had at least a high school diploma in 2005. In states such as Colorado, the proportion was even higher - 90 percent. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

- 17% of blacks 25 and older had a bachelor's degree or higher in 2005. In many states, the rate was higher. Twenty-six percent of blacks this age in Colorado, for instance, had this level of education. (Source: 2005 American Community Survey)

- 1.1 million blacks age 25 and older had an advanced degree in 2005 (e.g., master's, Ph.D., M.D. or J.D.). Ten years earlier - in 1995 - only 677,000 blacks had this level of education.

- For the 2005 school year, 2.3 million black college students were enrolled. This was an increase of roughly 1 million from 15 years earlier.
Income, Poverty and Health Insurance

- The annual median income of black households in 2005 is $30,858. In constant dollars, this is up from $25,642 in 1985.

- $33,077: The 2005 median earnings of black men 15 years old and over who worked full time, year-round. This compares to the median earnings of $29,672 for corresponding black women.

- The poverty rate in 2004 for those reporting black as their only race was 24.9%. This rate was down from 31.3% in 1985.

- 60% of black citizens age 18 and older voted in the 2004 presidential election. That amounted to 14 million voters. The percentage of those voting is up 3 percentage points from the previous election. Blacks had the highest turnout rate of any minority group in 2004.

- 19.6% of blacks lacked health insurance in 2005.
Families and Children

- There are 9.1 million black families in the United States. Of these, nearly one-half (47 percent) are married-couple families.

- 11% of black children live in a household maintained by a grandparent.

- 46% of black householders own their own home, nationally. The rate was higher in certain states, such as Mississippi, where it reached 56 percent.
Military Service

- There are 2.4 million black military veterans in the United States in 2004. (Source: American FactFinder)
Jobs

- 26% of blacks age 16 and older work in management, professional and related occupations. (Source: American FactFinder)

- There are 44,000 black physicians and surgeons; 79,400 postsecondary teachers; 45,200 lawyers; and 49,300 chief executives. (Source: Upcoming Statistical Abstract of the United States: 2007)

Data courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau

Be Comfortable in your Genes

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week highlights the fact that body size and shape are strongly influenced by biological factors – such as genetics, while also calling attention to some of the new discoveries surrounding the role of genetics in the development of eating disorders.

Too often individuals struggle against their natural, genetically influenced size just to fit into that pair of “skinny jeans” in the back of their closets. Fighting your natural size and shape can lead to unhealthy dieting practices, poor body image and sometimes eating disorders.


"Question Messages Portrayed in the Media: The media sends powerful messages to girls and women about the acceptability (or unacceptability) of their bodies. Young girls are thought to compare themselves to women portrayed as successful in the media, assessing how closely they match up to the "ideal" body form. Unfortunately, the majority of girls and women (96%) do not match up to the models and actresses presented in the media. The average model is 5'10" and weighs 110 pounds, whereas the average women is 5'4" and weighs 142 pounds. This is the largest discrepancy that has ever existed between women and the cultural ideal. This discrepancy leads many women and girls to feel inadequate and negative about their bodies. It is important to realize that only 4% of women genetically have the "ideal" body currently presented in the media, the other 96% of women feel they must go to extreme measures to attempt to reach this unobtainable image. Many of the images presented in the media have been computer enhanced and airbrushed. The models' hips and waists have often been slimmed and their breasts enlarged through computer photo manipulation. Many of the women presented in the media suffer from an eating disorder or have adopted disordered eating behaviors to maintain such low body weights. It is important to start to question images in the media and question why women should feel compelled to "live up" to these unrealistic standards of beauty and thinness."
shape.

Warm Weather Boosts Mood, Broadens The Mind

ScienceDaily (2004-10-07) -- Get out for at least 30 minutes. The positive impact warm, sunny weather can have on mental health and mood are real, according to new University of Michigan research.


See..it's not just me..everyone needs sunshine to be happy and healthy... I need a freaking vacation from this dang weather...

Happy Heart Love You Day

I missed the old days where the girls ( lisa, Angel, and sharmila,) would spend this day together... Lisa, how could I ever forget " To Mr. Martinelli, who makes a damn good drink." fun times... all in all though, this , today being the first year without ANY of my girls or a "love" has been a WONDERFUL day... and so far it truly is turning out to be one of the best years of my life... I am truly blessed... my heart is full.

and on a lighter note, a video that made me laugh out loud... I will have adorable kids one day

( please pause my music first so you can hear this little kid)

Frozen in Grand Central

I couldn't stand still for 30 seconds!

2008 is going to be GREAT

remember that scene in "Goonies" where they are down in the well and Mikey is yelling at at everyone, he yells" Out there, that's their time, it's THEIR time, but us, in here..this is our time... It's OUR TIME."

Every year that sucked, or didn't go the way I wanted it to, doesn't matter anymore... My life is not ment to be easy I know that by now, but in the end, it would have all been worth it...and right now, this year, this moment....is mine... I was ment for this right now. and I'm yelling "this.... right now, it's my time, it's MY time."


I am not without the knowledge that some things may go wrong, some things may not work out..but for the most part...2008 is my year, my time to shine..and 2008 is going to be GREAT!


...."things are gonna change I can feel it...."