Shimelle Prompt 4

Blogging about the ordinary is the prompt for today. And ofcourse my ordinary is I am BEHIND. We have 5 prompts...and I have only 2  and half (theres a draft I am NOT going to even publish).....why??? This is why..


I am seriously obsessed with these dang on farming games. I spend way to much time playing on FB or just on pc. I know some of it is avoidance. I have no mojo so I just mindlessly zone out playing the games. I can't even create a layout....without specific instructions. I know there is a deeper lesson in there (haven't done my morning pages in days. ) But I don't know where to start so I don't start anywhere. One day I guess...........

Azraelle's Bon Voyage Party

The party is over and done with! Thanks goodness. It was so much work getting everything together...but it turned out beautiful. A few minor upsets....guest of honor was over an hour and half late. The pastor and his wife came and he wanted to bless her and the event and she was still getting dressed across town. The wind kept blowing at the decorations but they still looked gorgeous. I was a wee bit upset when I found that instead saying Grambling Bound.....the cake said Gambling bound and was decorated with playing cards and coins.....A lot of people who were supposed to come...did not...oh well. We had plenty of food...good music...and she had a great time. And my second eldest, Dee said she DEFINITELY does not want a party. She would rather have a gift. Here are a few pictures...more on flickr

Cadillac Records Review

My mom and I had a girls nite out last nite. We have been eagerly awaiting this movie. We are both huge music fans…huge music movie fans and adore music history. So this movie was a must see for us. I have to admit that I went in prepared to like it. I am a huge fan of most of the lead actors. Jeffrey Wright is a genius. He is way underrated. Adrien Brody is also an excellent actor. Anyway this movie had me entranced from the opening scene. I have probably the weakest bladder in the world and a normal movie trip involves at least one trip to the ladies room. NOPE! I did not want to miss a scene. Columbus Short as Little Walter was brilliant. I have never really been a fan of his….but he really brought the character to life. Gabrielle Union’s portrayal of Muddy Water’s loving wife was her usual excellence. The most emotional scene in movie shows how moving she is as an actress. Beyonce was very good in this role. Many people have criticized her for continuing to play singers…but this role is like nothing she has ever done. When she is on screen, you do not see “Beyonce”, you see a woman who uses her tough exterior to hide her insecurities…a woman who uses drugs to fill the empty space inside her. My only complaint about Beyonce’s role was it wasn’t woven into the story as seamlessly as the other main characters. Eamon Walker’s “Howlin Wolf was a riot! He commanded the scene when ever he was present. And the music…..can’t forget the music. I have been playing the soundtrack for last week or so and its also a must have. I had already heard or listened to the original versions of most of the soundtrack and have to say I am very impressed with the actors choosing to sing instead of using the originals.  All in all I give this a Thumbs Up!

What Archetypes Are Calling You?

What Archetypes Are Calling You?
Carol S. Pearson

Scoring Methodology

Based on your answers, the following archetypes in red are those that are calling to you right now. You can use this information to make educated decisions about what the archetype really wants, and whether satisfying it requires you to purchase anything. Often, when we have the genuine experience the archetype craves, we find we do not have to buy so much.

A. 2 Innocent. .

B. 1 Explorer.

C. 3 Sage.

D. 4 Every person.

E. 4 Lover.

F. 5 Jester.

G. 3 Hero.

H. 2 Revolutionary.

I. 8 Magician. You have a strong desire to heal or transform people or situations. Now is the time to develop your power. Explore the art of changing your own consciousness in order to influence others. Be the future you want to see.

J. 7 Caregiver. You are drawn to being altruistic and helping others. Now is the time to identify who of the many needy people you most want to help. Donate some money. Volunteer. Spend time with children or the elderly or someone sick or otherwise in need. Lend a hand.

K. 6 Creator. You have a strong need now to express your creativity and imaginative potential. Find an art form and practice getting good at it. You may not be Picasso, but you do have a vision. Now is the time to encapsulate it in tangible form.

L. 2 Ruler.

This is interesting but not really news to me. Ihave always been a person who enjoys helping others, lots of people come to me for advice not because I am good at telling them what to do but because I am good at helping them figure out whats best for them to do. I guess a mother of 9 should have caregiver archetypal leanings...otherwise I would need a new job huh?And the creator aspect shows itself in my digital designs. I do enjoy it when I am not in a rut. I have been designing for the last couple days. Not really liking what I am doing but trying to push through.

Work in Progress & freebie

thats how I feel. My life has been so hectic...my eldest is graduating this year. She has decided on a college (go Grambling Tigers) but still has ACT to take, she made captain of the cheerleading squad and nominated to Homecoming Court...all of this means her extracurricular load is crazy...practice for this, practice for that, community appearances...whooo...busy busy busy. Here is Pixie in her uniform pic

my youngest son is seeing a new pediatric neurologist because the two previous ones moved out of the area. She is GREAT! i was really unhappy with the last one he had. He was good with my son but I just found him somewhat standoffish. My son will also be seeing a physiatrist...I had never heard of it either...its a rehabilitation doctor. Rehabilitation physicians are nerve, muscle, and bone experts who treat injuries or illnesses that affect how you move. Jorrell's official diagnosis is hemplegic cerebral palsy (resulting from stroke he suffered in utero) which means this doctor will use his expertise to oversee the physical & occupational therapy. Even with him getting it at school & outpatient once a week, we are noticing increased tone or difficulty with him doing the range of motion exercises. It makes me sad to see how he has to use his left arm turn his right arm in supine position.

But he is a real trooper and so sweet! The brace on his arm is to help with finger extension!
Those are just a few of the things that are keeping me busy. i also seem to have lost my mojo...i am working on a set of paper preview templates. A friend asked me to make her some so I obliged. This one supports 8 papers so here is a sample download here.
i am also working on my first tagger kit..I am part of the yahoo group Truly Inspired and next couple weeks, there will be a blog train based on this story SHIMILY (be sure to have your tissues ready). Stay tuned to for more info on that.

Tue 3/25 Blog Prompt

DSP Prompt
various family shots and journaling about the pictures

All of these pictures are from my relatives in Cincinnati. Its been almost a year since I have seen them and boy do I miss them....but pictures do help some...
These are my lil cousins....their mom was murdered two years ago and it hurts me to see how grown up they are getting and how much I miss their mom. They both for different reasons remind me of her when we were growing up together.

These are two more of my lil cousins. Their mom took a 14 year break between children. We all thought that her daughter Bree would be the only child....and up pops lil Tyrin! He is an adorable sweet baby who looks just like his mommy and big sister when they were babies.

here is my lil cousin Quan...he was first great grandson born ...after 4 girls....so he was QUITE spoiled. I can't believe he is old enough for his voice to change!!

These three are the youngest of the cousins....Shayla, Shiya and DJ. Their daddy is my cousin and is 8 years younger than me. I can hardly believe he is the father of three!!! The youngest Shayla shares the same middle name Ylonne as my youngest daughter Zaniyah. They were both named for his sister Tahnee Ylonne Jackson. RIP dearest cousin and sister of my heart. Believe me when I say that you are loved and missed greatly.

Never would Have Made It

I have been going through a hard time this week. I had to quit my job. I found out that three of the guys who started after me who have less experience AND less education got raises and I did not. I know that I did a better job than all three of them AND have better customer service skills. I felt very devalued for a while. I had to pray about it and finally just leave the company. I am stepping out on faith that the opportunity that is meant for me is right around the corner~ Any way during this difficult time, a good friend sent me this link and I just could not stop watching it. It is such a powerful performance and the song is one of my favorite gospel songs!

Marvin Sapp Never Would Have Made It



wooooh

here are excerpt from lyrics
I would have lost it all,
But I now I see how you were there for me and I can say
I'm stronger, I'm wiser, I'm better,
much better,

When I look back over all you brought me thru.
I can see that you were the one that I held on to
And I never
Chorus Never would have made it

I hope that sharing this will brighten someone's day like it did mine.

The Artist Way and the Smack Blogs

I am currently reading The Artist Way by Julia Cameron for my book club and when I came to this part...I had an A HA moment and had to share it with y'all

This chapter with criticism "The most severe criticism when it fairly hits the mark is apt to be greeted an internal Ah-hah! if it shows the artist a new and valid path for work. The criticism that damages is that which disparages, dismisses, ridicules (can i tell you how i HATE the word FUGLY), or condemns. It is frequently vicious but vague and difficult to refute. This is the criticism that damages."

Those blogs are FULL Of this type of criticism. I have never been mentioned personally but it pains me when I see designers who obviously work hard on their creations savaged as if by ravening wolves.....

All criticism is not bad....but the source and timing are CRUCIAL...

Digi Cliques...

As a mom of six daughters (two teens, two pre teens, and two toddlers), I have lots of past experience dealing with clique behavior/mentality and some to look forward to (NOT!) . It seems to be a fact of life that if more than 3 or so women are involved in ANY activity, cliques soon form. Bonding with like minded and similar interests individuals is a good thing, its only when it becomes a superiority exclusion thing that its a bad thing. And then it can become a bad bad BAD thing.

This is an excerpt from an article on workplace cliques...if you replace the word Company with digi community...well I bet you get the gist

"We all enjoy the camaraderie of people we share an interest or characteristic with, but when cliques become too exclusive, or destructive to those outside the group, the company suffers. ."

Depending on how entrenched the "clique culture" is, and how much influence you have on the environment and individuals involved, you may have a long, protracted battle on your hands to make your workplace as open, productive and objective as you'd like. It's been our experience, though, that anyone in the company who uses any one of these suggestions will improve the situation at least a little bit, and at least temporarily. Changing the situation permanently will take persistence and a more concerted effort.

It saddens me to see how firmly entrenched cliques are in the digital community. The two sets of standards that apply depending on who the person being talked about ...if she is in the 'IN" crowd, oh we must pity her, we must be understanding, we must make sure she is ok"...however she is NOT in the IN crowd....watch out poor thing....she is trashed, folks without any real knowledge of the situation make judgments, she is often shown the door and its clear she should never darken the step of the digi community again. And we (collective we) pat ourselves on the back and say it was for the good of the community.

But how often is our behavior JUST? Fair is not realistic. But we can and should always strive to be just in our dealings with others. Whether they are friends, customers or simply people we encounter in our journey through life. How often do we speak against injustice or do we close our eyes and shut our mouths for fear of ostracism and alienation? Is our behavior how we would like our children to behave because as all moms know...kids do what you do not what you say. I realize no one really cares what I think or how I feel but as a mom I want my kids to be able to look at my behavior and be proud of me.