Ummm...your beauty's showing!

I love this picture!



It makes me smile every time I look at it because this is what I see when I look in the mirror.

I could write whole sets of blogs about just my own travel-experiences through the mental land-mine field  of body image, self esteem or inner beauty (I won't. Who has that kind of time?!)...but at the end of the day, what matters is the simple reality of needing to look in a mirror and liking whats there. 

Well, luckily, I do like what I see...and she looks like the chick in this picture! *grin*

Its not about societal ideals of perfection. I stopped trying to crack that nut when I realized that society is a fickle beast and doesn't know what the hell real beauty is...or what makes a person truly beautiful. *shrugs* Real beauty is loving yourself enough to know that your opinion of your physical appearance is the ONLY opinion that matters.

Compliments are nice but the only validation I need is the one I get from myself when I look in the mirror and smile. Its simple for me now-a-days. Its about looking at that reflection of myself and feeling sexy, beautiful and desirable...to me! Its about knowing that every day is a new lesson in liking and loving me: Every curve, every dimple and every tightly-coiled curl. It's about being content in my own damn skin. And I am content. Finally.

(Jessica Rabbit said it this way: "I'm not bad. I'm just drawn that way.")

...I think I need to grab a sheet and have a photo shoot! Ha!

Dear Tech Support

 

Dear Tech Support,

Last year I upgraded from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0 and noticed that the new program began unexpected child processing that took up a lot of space and valuable resources. No mention of this phenomenon was included in the product brochure. In addition, Wife 1.0 installs itself into all other programs and launches during system initialization, where it monitors all other system activity. Applications such as Pokernight 10.3, Drunken Boys Night 2.5 and Saturday Football 5.0 no longer run, crashing the system whenever selected. I can not seem to keep Wife 1.0 in the background while attempting to run some of my other favorite applications. I am thinking about going back to Girlfriend 7.0, but the un-install does not work on this program. Can you help me, please!

Thanks, Joe

Dear Joe:

This is a very common problem men complain about but it is mostly due to a primary misconception. Many people upgrade from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0 with the idea that Wife 1.0 is merely a UTILITIES & ENTERTAINMENT program. Wife 1.0 is an OPERATING SYSTEM and designed by its creator to run everything. 

It is unlikely you would be able to purge Wife 1.0 and still convert back to Girlfriend 7.0. Hidden operating files within your system would cause Girlfriend 7.0 to emulate Wife 1.0 so nothing is gained. It is impossible to un-install, delete, or purge the program files from the system once installed.

You can not go back to Girlfriend 7.0 because Wife 1.0 is not designed to do this. Some have tried to install Girlfriend 8.0 or Wife 2.0 but end up with more problems than the original system. Look in your manual under "Warnings-Alimony/Child Support".

I recommend you keep Wife 1.0 and just deal with the situation. Having Wife 1.0 installed myself, I might also suggest you read the entire section regarding General Partnership Faults (GPFs). You must assume all responsibility for faults and problems that might occur, regardless of their cause. 

The best course of action will be to enter the command C:\APOLOGIZE. In any case, avoid excessive use of the ESC key, because ultimately you will have to give the APOLOGIZE command before the operating system will return to normal. The system will run smoothly as long as you take the blame for all the GPFs. Wife 1.0 is a great program, but VERY high maintenance. Consider buying additional software to improve the performance of Wife 1.0. I recommend Flowers 2.1 and Chocolates 5.0. Do not, under any circumstances, install Secretary With Short Skirt 3.3. This is not a supported application for Wife 1.0 and is likely to cause irreversible damage to the operating system.

Best of luck, Tech Support

(Full Disclosure: This little jewel was birthed on the 'net and I have no right to claim its awesome-ness as my own! So, I won't. LOLZ! I still hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, though...)

My Vow

My VOW...

My vow is not built upon what others think of me but what I think of myself.

I have three sons to raise as a single-parent. I am a single-parent. I am a woman. I am black.

I have been labeled a statistic.
I have been told my children will not have the advantages that some others may have and these disadvantages will lead them to jail or a grave.
I have been told that I will not be able to love and mold my children into productive members of society.
I have been told that I will not succeed because so many others have failed.

I have received these categorizations from every side: black, white, male and female. It has not been monopolized by any one group or person.

I will say that the above statements have nothing to do with me as an individual but the "me" that is seen as a part of a whole:

The whole...Black Community
The whole...Singleparent community
The whole...Female community
...and countless other segregated pigeon-holes, opinionated people have placed my outer persona into.

I truly believe everyone is entitled to their own thoughts and ideals, as I am, however if those principles or values are not my own...I do not receive them. These types of differing values are simply statements that hold no real sway in my reality.

You see...my name is Edith and at the end of the day I have nothing to prove to anyone but my children... and for them I will move mountains. (racism, poverty and countless other circumstances that stand in my path)

My sons will know what it is to take responsibilty for their own actions because I teach them.
I will instill in them the joy and desire to learn...to constantly better themselves and to never stop expanding their knowledge.
I will, by example, show them that there is no "The end..." in life but "What's next..." and that each phaze is an opportunity for growth.
I will teach them that giving back means more than words, it means actions.
They will know that being a man means more than making babies and collecting bedpost notches.
Through my life, they know what an honorable woman is...I will demonstrate it everyday, everway and every opportunity.
Ideals that I cannot give them, personally, will be introduced via trusted male role models that I bring into their lives.
I have shown them, by my very deeds, that I do what I say and I say what I do and they will know the power honoring their word.
I will raise my children to be whatever they can dream because they will know they have only the limits they put on themselves.
I will teach them that no one's opinion should define who and what they are.
I will teach them that no human being is perfect or above any other human being.
I will teach them how to rise when they stumble and how to regroup from a fall.
I will show them the value of real friendships and the dangers of materialism.
In short...I will fall back when it is time for them to stand on their own...
AND I WILL WATCH THEM SOAR!!!

I do these things not because I am trying to live up to someone else's expectations, decrees, success rates or opinions but because it is how I want my children to be raised...it is my RIGHT way...my only way.

Nankurunaisa!

Scorpio.

I am a SCORPIO...yep, it's all true...LOL!

THE SCORPIO

Beneath a controlled, cool exterior beats the heart of the deeply intense Scorpion. Passionate, penetrating, and determined, this sign will probe until they reach the truth. The Scorpion may not speak volumes or show their emotions readily, yet rest assured there's an enormous amount of activity happening beneath the surface. Excellent leaders, the Scorpion is always aware. When it comes to resourcefulness, this sign comes out ahead.

Friends and Family

Sincerity and truth are strong components of the Scorpion's friends. It can take some time before really close bonds are formed, but once done, the Scorpion will remain dedicated and loyal. Witty and intellectual, they prefer companions who are humorous and easygoing. Full of surprises, this sign will give you the shirt off their backs if that's what you need; yet, once they are crossed, there's no turning back. They feel deeply, and once hurt, it can be impossible to turn things around. Commitment to family is strong and consistent with the Scorpion. They are exceptionally helpful in managing affairs, and they are excellent advocates when one is needed.

Career and Money

"I desire" is the key phrase for the Scorpion. They are fantastic at managing, solving, or creating. Once the Scorpion sets their sights on a goal, there's no deterring this sign. Tasks that require a scientific, penetrating approach are always best done by the Scorpion, as they will delve deeply into the materials they have. Their ability to focus, coupled with determination, makes for strong management skills. They're not ones to worry about making friends on the job scene; rather, they prefer to see the task accomplished well.

Pursuing such careers as a scientist, doctor, investigator, navigator, detective, researcher, police officer, business manager, and psychologist all suit the mighty Scorpion. Respect is an essential aspect of working for this sign. They need to respect their coworkers, while also feeling a sense of being respected by others.





Scorpio (Continued)

Disciplined enough to stick to a budget and unafraid of working as hard and as long as it takes puts the Scorpion in a good financial position. Many are fortunate and inherit money. Whatever the case - and regardless of the balance - they are great managers of their dollars and are not apt to overspend at all. Money means security and a sense of control, which is important to the Scorpion. Therefore, they're going to hang onto the majority of the cash, making decisions carefully before turning any of it over.

Love and Sex

This is the strongest of the sexualities in the zodiac. Incredibly passionate, the Scorpion takes intimacy seriously. Partners need to be intelligent and honest. Much of the foreplay for this sign happens long before the bedroom through conversation and observation. Once in love, they are devoted and loyal to the death. But relationships can take some time. The Scorpion needs to build trust and respect for a potential mate slowly and thoroughly.

SCORPIO TIDBITS

Scorpio Birthdays
October 23 - November 21

Health
Each sign has a part of the anatomy attached to it, making this the area of the body that is most sensitive to stimulation. The anatomical areas for Scorpio are the genitals, bladder, rectum, and the reproductive organs.

Ruling Planet
The ruling planet for Scorpio is Pluto. Traditionally, this planet rules that which is hidden from view. It also represents conception, birth and death, slow growth, generation, regeneration, unpopular causes, anonymity, phobias, and the exposition of secrets.

Colors
The colors of choice for Scorpio are dark red to maroon.

Gemstone
Scorpio's star stone is the opal.



Scorpio (Continued)

Lucky Numbers
Scorpio's lucky numbers are 2, 7, and 9.

Compatibility
Scorpions are most compatible with Pisces and Cancer.

Opposite Sign
The opposite sign of Scorpio is Taurus.

The Perfect Gift
The best gifts for a Scorpio are sentimental choices, clothing (especially something sexy), and non-fiction books.

Likes
Truth, facts, flirtation, long-time friends

Dislikes
The superficial, flattery, shallow people, being taken advantage of

House
Natural sign of the Eighth House. This house focuses on sex, taxes, death and rebirth, a partner's resources, inheritance, and regeneration.

Famous Scorpios
Carl Sagan, Jodie Foster, Indira Gandhi, Prince Charles, Grace Kelly and Edith Parker.

Nankurunaisa.