Chocl8t Ramblings

Ignorance-Intolerance-Hatred-Death, Part II

jamielshaw.jpgDayum the Iraq insurgency! Dayum the rising gas prices! Dayum Tony Rezko and his connection to Barack Obama! Dayum NAFTA!

What I want to know is how do we keep our young black men safe!!

Jamiel Andre Shaw, 17, was shot multiple times on a sidewalk a few yards from his home after he didn’t respond when two men pulled up in a car and asked him “Where you from?” – code for which gang did he belong to, police said. He was not a gang member.

Read the story here.

I am at the point where I am afraid to have children. I will not be able discipline them at home for fear of child services taking them. And stories like this make me fear for the future safety of my nephews and unborn children. Granted, I don’t live in an area plagued by gang violence but nor am I so delusional to think something like this couldn’t happen to someone I love.

My heart goes out to Jamiel’s parents. I can’t begin to fathom their grief knowing they did all the right things only to have their son snatched away from them by a couple of ignorant, self-loathing, cowardly jackasses. My prayer is that law enforcement find the suspects and they do long hard time in a prison cell with Pookie’s cousins, Tiny and Boo-Boo.

DAYUM! DAYUM!! DAYUM!!!!! 😦

Photo Source

Little Girl Lost

lilkim.jpgWhat would compel a beautiful young woman to go under the knife countless times seeking perfection resulting in anything but perfection? Well, the same thing made her rap about her “Kitty Box” and sexing up men for money all the while referring to herself as a bitch – little to no self esteem.

Should anyone really be surprised by the result of low self esteem, self hatred, and feelings of worthlessness? Saddened maybe, but not surprised. One web resourse states that Kimberly Denise Jones lived with her father after her parents’ divorce until she was a teenager and he kicked her out of the house. Another source states that Kim ran away from home unable to abide by her father’s strict rules. Regardless of how it came about I’m sure psychologist would love to get her on their sofa. (no pun intended)

lilkim2.jpgI have often wondered about this girl. How lacking a strong foundation, the lure of money and fame seduced her into sexually explicit rap lyrics and whorish costumes. But that wasn’t enough. She so despised her looks that, with the help of plastic surgeons, has morphed into an Asian woman.

While some may argue she worked the system to her benefit and made a lot of money in the process I am reminded of the saying, “what profits a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul“.

lilkim3.jpg

So pull out your Psych degrees and tell me what is your take on Lil Kim?

Sources: Answers.com and The Internet Movie Database

Wishing On A Star….

I am a modest woman with desires, hopes and wishes. It doesn’t take much to get me tickled and giddy with excitement. For the most part, I am fairly content I have a beautiful family that loves me, friends for whom I am blessed to have in my life and a career/job that pays the bills.But there are some things that make me go “Ooo…can I have one of those?”

So here is Chocl8t’s “Wish List” in no particular order of importance.

fridge.jpgNo home is complete without the LG HDTV Refrigerator LSC27991! It’s a top-of-the-line, high-tech entertainment center with a LCD TV, DVD hookup, radio and slideshow option to display your favorite digital photos. With the press of a button, you can also access your five-day weather forecast and view more than 100 built-in recipes.

Yeeaaah baby!! I can see it now stocked full of water, fruit, Cranberry Juice and Grey Goose.

nikon1.jpgThe Nikon D200 digital camera with all the bells and whistles! Starting at $1,600! My family has already nicknamed me Olin Mills because I keep my current digital camera with me. You will never catch me at a family gathering without my camera! Click. Click. Zoom!!

kitchenaidmixer.jpgI can’t bake worth shyt but I would learn if I had this KitchenAide mixer. I would be a baking fool. Watch out Rachel Ray and Martha Stewart!! Plus, it would look great in my kitchen next to that LG refrigerator! Is anyone up for a Red Velvet cake?  🙂

logitech-harmony-remote2.jpgI have a total of 7 remotes in my house! SEVEN! Three alone are for the TV, DVD/surround system, and satellite box in my living room. I could toss all of them in the trash, or at least in a drawer, with the Logitech Harmony 880 Universal remote. Programming is as simple as plugging it into USB port on my PC for the initial setup and adding additional equipment. Disclaimer: Future boyfriends/husbands – GET YOUR OWN! 🙂

sillouette-of-man.jpgThe ever so elusive, enigmatic IBM – Ideal Black Man. I love black men to pieces!! All of you. Every part of you. Only you. My love affair with you goes waaaay, waaay back. I haven’t given up on you nor will I ever! But you must come correct and be on point with your bidness! I’ve been single and on my own for a long time but when you arrive I will gladly hand over the pants I’ve been wearing – YOU CAN HAVE ‘EM. However, check your bullshit and baggage at the door…cause that is where you will find mine. 🙂

megamillions.jpg$270 Million! This here!! This here could be the key to making some of the other stuff happen! Well, after taxes, I’m looking at about $140 million. That would be quite the nest egg! I could retire, travel the world, fill my closet with more shoes than I need, take care of mom financially, etc., etc.

HA! But who am I kidding? I’ll never win because I never play! I get mad when I spend $5 on a scratch off lottery ticket and don’t win – shyt that’s gas money! I don’t like the odds of the lottery. What is it, like a billion to one? But it sure is fun to dream.

Highlights and Heels!

oldage.jpgI was perusing the news websites like always do when I came across this eye-catching headline: “Over 40? You Can Look Young & Hip Author Says“. Charla Krupp has authored a book titled “How Not To Look Old” which was number 2 on Sunday’s New York Times Best Seller List.

…it urges women to retain a youthful appearance with brightened teeth,highlighted hair (and bangs), hip (but not too young) clothes, high heels and soft, natural makeup. She doesn’t believe in plastic surgery, by the way.

Read the entire story here.

Deep Sigh

As an African American woman I am amazed this kind of crap sells and even more amazed that my Caucasian sisters are so susceptible to this. Yes, I think many more white women stress about this more than black women when they really don’t have to. Why? I don’t know. Maybe someone could enlighten me. 🙂

I think the author, Charla Krupp, has some personal issues with aging thus the reason for her book. However, a word of caution I would offer anyone considering her suggestions is to remember that how well you age or don’t age is primarily and largely due to genetics. JMO

Outside of living a healthy lifestyle, no drug abuse, minimal stress, no sun worshipping, moderate alcohol use, etc., there’s not much you can do about it. If your mother looks, or looked, like death warmed over at 40, chances are…you will too.

I’m just saying….

Weekend Warrior

I am no stranger to “do-it-yourself” home projects and usually fare well when I take one on. This weekend, however, I was traumatized by a can of paint with granite crystals. The paint swatch had a nice golden glitter effect with small granite speckles – PERFECT! It will look beautiful in my dining room – one lightly textured wall with darker surrounding walls.

before.jpgbefore.jpgbefore.jpgOn Friday evening I stopped at Lowe’s to purchase the paint and a few other miscellaneous supplies needed to complete my project. With the plants out of the room, chairs moved, the table cleared and covered with a drop cloth, and a pitcher daiquiri on hand, I started painting.

Half the wall was covered when I stepped back and gasped. “That doesn’t look like the swatch”, I cried. It looked like gold paint with black sand clumped and blobbed throughout. “Oh God!! What the hell….” Panic set in. How in the world was I going to get this clumpy mess off my wall, I thought as I downed my third glass of daiquiri. This can’t be happening…

Read Full Article