Purpose Driven Life

Today I received the ultimate compliment (that a teacher can get IMO)from one of my students. She said with much sincerity, that she is learning soo much in my class and that I am a good Instructor. She explained that she had taken the course b4 with very little success because, in her opinion the other instructor did little more than write things on the board. Of course I came to the other persons defense because I know full well what it's like to be blamed for a students lake of comprehension ;-)

Her words put a smile on my face, but I felt very humble. It is of course my goal to reach each and every student in a positive way, but of course we know that doesn't always happen... but to know that I touched even one lets me know that my choice of career, is the right one (for this moment in my journey) and that again proves to be very fulfilling!

Here are a couple pics of a roller-set I did a couple days ago:

Progress (month 4)

The Beauty Of Change

Often times, we scoff @ the thought of change. Were comfortable in our current state. Thought of the unknown alone, is enough to send us into fits of hyperventilation... but change is good.

We don't always see the why of it, and don't always welcome its arrival, but hindsight proves that there is beauty in it none-the-less.

Of course the in-between stage can be difficult and awkward like a teenager, but in the end we are (often times) able to say we are stronger and more wiser because of it.

Can you imagine being upset every time the Seasons change? We know it's inevitable. If we learn to embrace it, things would flow much smoother... If we don't, it only leads to depression, anxiety and a host of other possible mental ills.

I am going through a host of changes currently... My decision to embrace them and not fight them has made for an easier transition. I thank the Creator for growth and maturity!

I see so many folks going through the phases of their loc journeys. Many have angst, because they want the journey to be smooth and predictable. They see the end results of someone who has gone through their up and downs and get excited at the thought of what they want theirs to look like in a matter of months. When it doesn't, they get discouraged and some even give up.

What I would like to say as a sister who has been there and done that, and is now doing it again... is that, THERE IS NO SHORT CUT! You must embrace the journey... or at least learn to. Other wise, as I stated above, you will be constantly frustrated and unhappy with what you see in the mirror.

In a world that hasn't learned to embrace natural hair, we can't afford to be unhappy with what we see in the mirror beloved sisters (and brothers). We need to have confidence if we are to change this society's standards of so-called beauty. If you go out unsure, trust and believe, someone will change your mind with just a few ill comments and you may just find your self falling prey to that "creamy crack" yet again.

Be strong, embrace change, and 'except your own and be yourself'!

Short Up-Date

Greetings...

Not much going on with the locs, sept for plenty of new growth (which of course is a great thing). I feel very strongly that I am well on my way to a head of beautiful locs. I think I have the tools/knowledge to keep them strong and healthy.

At this point I am at month 4. I have plenty of budding, and the locs in the nape area are mostly sealed. I truly don't mind the loose, curly ends. I think their rather cute. For now tho, I'll let them do what they do.

I will post pics when I am ready to latch, which should be in about a week. I may even try to do a tutorial... who knows. Stay tuned.

This (nappy) Hair Thing...

Anyone who knows me personally knows how I feel about nappy hair... I luv it!

I understand the history behind the word and am fully aware of the damage it has caused black females, young and old, who have been on the receiving end of being called "nappy headed" by their parents, siblings, friends or enemies.

I am making it my personal journey to take back that word. I see nappy as a positive word. I embrace it and all it stands for.

Nappy to me means: tightly coiled, rebellious, resistant, beautiful, unique, strong, and it means that I belong to a very special group of people on this earth. With my nappy hair that connection can never be denied!

We have tried for centuries to conk, burn, and lye our hair into submission to try to fit into this societies definition of beauty, which in large demonstrates that the closer to Caucasian you look the more beautiful and accepted you are. You can take it or you can let it alone, but deep down you know I'm right!

Getting into the whole "good hair," "bad hair" thing would cause me to take up more room than necessary... But I will say this; good hair is healthy hair... Period!

I am no longer conforming! I except myself and my hair just the way God intended. My hair grows out of my head kinky... who am I to say to the Creator that what I was born with was a mistake that needs to be corrected. Never mind the potential health risk that come from using caustic chemicals month after month on your scalp/skin directly over your brain!

Thousands if not more black women suffer from different forms of alopecia every day stemming directly from abuse and damage caused by these chemicals... and for what? To look more like someone your not? This society is truly sick with self hatred. Folks will risk their life and have an unnecessary surgical procedure under local anesthesia (which poses dangers in and of itself) to obtain "fuller" lips, bigger boobies, a more round bottom, a narrow more Caucasian nose... insanity I tell you!

Why would you see your hair falling in the sink every morning, find thinning areas in your head, see a dermatologist, have him/her diagnose you with Alopecia and advice you to stop "relaxing" your hair and you go directly to the beauty salon after a few months of treatment for the problem to start the cycle over again? This happens every day folks. I am not making this up! There is a deep problem here that goes beyond hair. IMO, addiction comes into play.

I am a member of the web site: Nappturality.com and the phrase "creamy crack" is used to describe this addiction we have to these caustic chemicals we call relaxers and texturizers (for the black men out there). It really fits because we literally have to have that "fix" on time every time or we go through withdrawals. Sad but true.

We say we do it because its a style choice. We justify doing it for the sake of a job, a boyfriend, our family... I am sure all those folks would except you even more after your hair falls out and you are completely bald... or will they? Hmmm...

The description that I give for nappy hair fits me completely. I luv the song India sang, "I am not my hair," but I'm gunna have to say a large part of me is my hair.

So go on and say I have nappy hair and watch me smile and say "thank you" because I am not defined by how society chooses to mis-use the word but how I embrace what I was born with and how I except my own unique beauty.

Peace

Jazz.... The Re-Birth of 'Blu'

The birth of Jazz for me started in Jr High School. (King Jr High... woot woot!)

Didn't take long for me to get hooked... and eventually addicted.

I'd even venture to say it began sooner than that. My mom, whose from Mississippi, played the blues and R&B around the house all the time... I mean all the time!

When she cooked, when she entertained family and friends, when she cleaned, there was always that music play'n. I never got tired of it... I luved it! It grew on me as if it where a second language. There where all kinds of songs to fit each and every mood. A beat for every word even... A second language.

I started off playing baritone in my Jr. High Schools concert and marching band... then I discovered the jazz band and switched to the trombone (valve trombone to be specific). It was then that my obsession with music came into full bloom. Later in high school, I continued to play my trombone. I became a member of an elite... thas right! elite jazz band, that was a force to be reckoned with even in the professional world of Jazz (IMO). In the home of the late great Miles Davis, East Saint Louis IL, was a high school by the name of Lincoln Sr. High. Most of the real "cats" that took it serious came a class before me... but I was still glad to be part of the legend! Know that I think back... we where so young to be so involved and evolved.

Any one who knows jazz... I mean REALLY feels it, knows what I'm speaking of. You know the language even if you don't play an instrument. It moves through you like a warm wind on a Autumn day. You can feel the warmth with a hint of cold. When you let go and allow yourself to be open to it, there are spirits that visit you. They come out in the form of facial expressions you never knew you where capable of and that you wouldn't dare reveal in public if you only had control. Ain't no looking cute when you feel it! It's like testifying in church! (which is the closest Ive ever come to any kind of testifying LOL).

Ahhh... those where the days. I still luv Jazz very much. We kinda broke up for a min, but it's always been on my mind like that first love youll never quit get completely over. I think it's time. Time to humbly go back to my love, my passion. Time to blow the dust off my "axe" and bring him out of retirement. It'll be hard at first, but it will be well worth it...

Maaan... I can just here those old JJ Johnson tunes in my mind. The ones I stole all my "licks" from. Where's that "Fake" book (those who know, knows )?

To be... or knot to be...

I am sooooooo bored with my hair right now!

This is currently my signature style:
The bantu knot-out

When I had locks the first go round, I used to wear head-wraps very often. Now I don't.... I just don't care for them much any more for myself. I am seriously considering putting extension over the braids... blasphemy I know... but who cares It's my darn hair.
Right now I have no clue if I'm actually gunna do it or not... just that I have given it some thought. Better than thinking of cutting them right? That, is not even an option! I'll post pics if I do it... stay tuned ;-)

In other news:
I have always believed the adage that "nothing is written in stone" when it comes to $$, so I have no problem haggling. I'm a thrifty gal so I will purposely try to find a garment with a flaw so I can negotiate a lessor price (these are my confessions yall! LOL). Anywho... so I am currently town house hunting, and the process has just been terrible! Well... I found one that I fell in luv with. It had 'Malaika' written all over it and the perfect school district (which is the main factor in moving since my eldest will be entering college in a couple years), but it was very pricey, so of course being the cheapo that I am, I shopped around a bit more. I found a second town-home, which was almost as nice. School dist, was ok. Not as nice as the first neighborhood offered but better than our current dist (plus this one had a fire place).

So here's where things start to stress me out. While I was "shopping" around for a possible better price, the first town house was leased. Bummer! I decide to go on and grab the second choice, because I didn't want to loose that option and others weren't looking up to my standards... So all is well right? So I thought. I put down a deposit, was given a move-in date, transferred my utilities, packed boxes, etc... The wheels where turning and we where all looking forward to the move. I get a call at the last min, on a Sunday no less, stating that there was a problem. It happens that the gentleman, who was scheduled to move out, decided to sign up for a month-to-month until his closing date on his new home. WTH?! So I was left in limbo.

I was very up-set to say the least, but held my composure. This meant that my children, whome I had already transfered where also in limbo and school was about to start. Meanwhile... I decided to check back with town house #1, just to see if there was a remote possibility they had something becoming available soon... indeed they did! I'm happy and feeling pretty blessed.

Today, I receive a phone call from the place that had me in limbo, saying "we have your full refund and just wanted to let you know that we have something for you now." This comes after almost 3 weeks. Ok, so here's definite proof that I am the worlds thriftiest person (maybe). I haggle. LOL Darn right! I asked if they would give me a better price than what I was getting since it was there fault that I was forced to go looking for another any way. The young lady on the other end of the phone sounded turned off by my suggestion. I simply told her to relay my offer to the management and get back to me. Less than an hour later, she called back with "sorry, we can't do that." Oh well... can't say I didn't try. And to be honest, the fact that they wouldn't work with me turned me off even more, since it was there incompetence IMO, that caused me to have to go look for another place, not to mention I would have lost money if I had switched back to them.

It all worked out in the end.

Moral of story?... Take what you will from it ;-)