What is in it for me?

Is the title a selfish statement? Or is it something that you subconsciously practice, but feel there is a stigma attached to admitting it? I ask because I've been the strange one before, I freely think AROUND the box and its dawned on me that I do NOTHING without something being in it for me.

I don't think its a selfish statement.... for instance: I give because the bible commands me to do so. I will do anything for my fellow human being if its within my power to do so. If a person is on the street and says they are hungry, I'll go out of my way to buy them a meal and other examples such as this. What it is in it for me? The bible says "to whom much is given, much is required" or "you are your brother's keeper". The question then becomes, do you ask yourself what is in it for you or is the question unconscious.

Would you volunteer to help a friend who has no family and is struggling with cancer alone? Or would you wait to be asked, or do you have the demeanor whereby a person would even think to ask you? What would be in this gesture for you?

Would you open your home for a friend or family member to stay with you? What would you get out of it?

Just some things to muse over.

I need topic starters

OK... I know I said I was going to write every day for the next 21 days to start the habit, but I have to be up front with everybody. I'm don't have topics to write about every day. For the past 3 days, I've contemplated what to write about, and nothing seemed intriguing enough for me to sit down and discuss here. So in an effort to write something, I thought I would write with a request. You give me topics to discuss, any topic to discuss, and I'll do it.

Some things like what did I eat today= boring. I'm looking for more stimulating conversation, and moreover, I'm looking for conversation on a two way street. I see that people are reading my fledgling blog, but very few comments. Hearing from you will inspire me to keep this up, and get better with it.

Anyone care to help me out with a few topic starters?

What a difference a year makes

Life changes so much but have you ever stepped back to take notice? So many things have happened in the past 365 days and oddly I marked the time in a rather unique way, the growth of the hair on my Maltese. I'll start by showing her picture 1 year ago today. She had to undergo a near scalping, due to my mismanagement of her care on a week long, 1500 mile car trip. Cocoa's long hair required daily care so I was heart sick when her groomer said he couldn't save her beautiful hair after we found other more interesting things to do besides brushing hair.

In the next 365 days, a lot more things have changed besides the loss of hair. I've acquired so much. I gained a home, I've gained friendships, I've seen the renewing of life through a person receiving a liver transplant, the birth of nephews and neices etc. I've lost loved ones who even in their departure saw fit to bless others with their organs. I've been a shoulder to cry on, and through friends, I've had a shoulder to lean on too.

I've learned that love is an action verb. I've learned that its great to tell someone you love them, but the greatest gift of love is to show it. I've learned more and more just how much value complete honesty has on me as an individual. I understand that not everyone is capable of disclosing the truth, but as you are able, one should strive to.

A black man is the presumptive nominee of the Democratic party... In my life time! I think of my great grandparents who raised me, the stories they told of sit-ins, marches and other acts they took so that I and those who come after could be seen as equal. How I wish their life would have extended so that they could be alive to see 2008.

In conclusion, there is a gospel song that is ringing in my ears today. The lyrics in part, read: When I turn around, and I think things over, all of my good days outweigh my bad days, I won't complain! My what a difference 365 days makes.

Here is a picture of my baby Cocoa today!

The Jump Off

Alright lets have a candid conversation if we can. Lets talk about the jump off. You know, the woman a man has, or the womEn a man has, he goes to get his needs satisfied. She's not a steady woman, she doesn't get anything out of the deal and if she says she does, she's fooling no one but herself. The question then becomes, does she know she's a jump off and if so why is she so accepting?

Or.... Lets get down to it.

Does the man know, she knows she is the jump off? Or is he actually her jump off? How would man take it? Does he even care? Usually men think that they have a harem of women at the ready, just call up a chick, if he has to take her to dinner once, ok. But before 2 weeks is up, or whatever other arbitrary time he's set he's going to tap that booty. What happens when he finds out he's just another stallion in the stable?

Time to fess up ladies... do you have a stable? Are you opposed to having one? Do your men know? How do you think they would feel if they knew?
Men, how do you feel as the jump off? What? You didn't know?

Welcome My newest Nephew

My brother's wife had baby Jonathan on Independence day! Help me welcome him to the world! I think this is a very fitting blog entry!

Jonathan, named after his father, was born at 6:38PM, weighing 8 pounds 7ounces, and 20 inches long. Just in time to enjoy the fireworks.

Bad Hair Day- or in this case, Bad Hair Week

Life gets in the way when one ties to write a blog everyday. I see 4 days have slipped by without an entry from me and I really don't know how that happened. I have observed writing is easier when I've been in the routine of going to work and then writing when I get home in the evening. When I don't go to work, the routine is less regimented and therefore I haven't set aside a proper time to write here. Working on it..... all I can say, working on it!

Lets talk about bad hair for minute... In 13 years of going to the same beautician (stylist) I can honestly say I've never had a bad hair style. But then credit goes to her, not me, because I'm not capable of doing it on my own. I've never sat in her chair and had an idea of how my hair should be, I place myself in he complete control so the ONE time I've had a coherent thought, it turns out to be a flop. So what do I do now? I'm sitting here and one side says do it myself... the other side says, its not so bad... So what would you do?

Exercising

I've finally reached the stage in my life that I've come to value exercise. I've become more sedentary the older I've become and the metabolism isn't what she used to be. I've also become addicted to Coca Cola (the specific brand) and literally every time I drink one, I gain ounces. Instead of graciously filling up my womanly figure, the womanly figure is almost butterball like and totally unacceptable.
I first noticed the unseemliness of my hourglass figure when I took up caching. Its not so bad in urban settings, but get in the woods and this body doesn't really want to cooperate. I have yet to pass out, or just flat out stop, but I'd be less than honest if I said the thought hadn't crossed my mind a time or two. My caching bud then decided that we should participate in The Great Urban Race and while I had a great time, in order to win, you have to run from location to location and running isn't in my sight at this moment. So I've known for some time that I have to take drastic changes, but I hate to exercise. I hate to sweat! For years I've said the only exercise I'm willingly interested in participating in will be sex and now that I'm not even getting that... I've had to reconsider my position. (Pun totally intended.)
Meanwhile, it seems the world around me is becoming obsessed with diet and exercise. I've always maintained the position of live life to the fullest, enjoy every minute of it, eat what you want, drink what you want and be merry. I've also maintained I have to die of something, and die I shall so.... While I'm not changing position necessarily, I'm willing to change a partner or two. I've resigned myself to one coke a day and I've been at it for three weeks now. I've signed myself up for the Biggest Loser - NSBC (my church team) and so I have teammates who are counting on me. I have noticed some change with the deletion of 2 or 3 cokes a day, so I've decided to try to exercise more. I've starting a walking program at home. So many physicians have recommended http://www.lesliesansone.com/ to my friends, I obtained a DVD and have, for the past two days, embarked upon a walking journey.
Now to be honest, I really didn't think I'd sweat just from walking in place basically. Let me be the first to tell you, that yes I do get a workout from following the DVD. It might be slow but slow and steady will win the race, I'm sure. It was because of my exercise routine last night, 3 miles of strenuous walking, I failed to have the required energy to write a blog last night. I was bathed, powdered, fed and asleep at 8:30pm last evening. Using this DVD is another of my 21 day habit forming changes. Doing something is better than the nothing I'd previously committed to.
Now truth be told, if I get some of my womanly figure back, I can get someone to accomplish my sex only exercise plan LOLOLOL. A girl can hope, can't she?