The Good, the Better, and the Absolutely Random!

Your Greatest strength is love and Your Greatness is not what you have, it's what you give . . .at least, that what Yogi told me. Everyday, I have my coffee in the morning and at least two cups of tea, mid-morning and afternoon. Every single day I drink a cup of green tea courtesy of Ito-En, by way of Kirkland, (as in Costco's Kirkland). It is by far, one of the best green teas you can buy. My second tea varies, it might be a cranberry tea, English breakfast tea, a "Get Gorgeous" tea, or a Yogi tea. Recently, I bought a box of Yogi tea since it was on sale. In fact, I usually only buy that tea when it goes on sale. Anyway, I have the Green Tea for weightloss and it's quite delicious! However, besides its delicious taste I love the inspirational messages on the little paper attached to the teabag. I got the two aforementioned messages from Yogi tea in one week. My initial thought was "Aw, isn't that nice . . . .I think I'll keep that".

Then I got to thinking . . . I should probably try to implement that in my life, for real. I always say I love everyone, but I do not necessarily like everyone. I'm thinking I need to do a better job at looking at everyone from a place of love. For example, do I have a capacity to love those who annoy me, or people I deem superficial, or fake, or lazy, or materialistic, or whatever else we all judge people for? Going forward I want to do exactly that, to love them inspite of all of that, to try to understand where they are coming from, to remember we all have a story. Even though I mind my business, treat people with respect, and do not have any enemies (not that I know of, at least:), I know I must do better. I want love and respect like everyone else, so I need to consistently give it.

The second message was little easier for me to grasp, in fact I'm looking forward to putting it into practice. See, I have no problem paying my tithes in offerings. Its something I learned at a young age. One of my biggest goals, one that's dear to my heart, it to one day 1) endow a scholarship(s) and 2) to set aside a sizeable chunk of money every year for various causes and organizations. I do need to work on giving of myself and my time. My time is so precious to me and I hate to waste it, and I hate others to waste it. I'm also, on a continual search to discover my God given gifts, talents, and purpose. I want to be able to share those with others. I know I'm a good listener, so I should start there. . . to lend my ear more. Its not much, but its a start.

Its amazing what a couble of cups of tea could teach you!

Posted by Brainy Brown Girl in NYC at 10/14/2008 09:14:00 PM Comments

I'm really trying not to post about the election. As it is, I read a couple of articles a day about it, when I should be working, and I watch a little CNN, etc when I go home, in addition, to listening to the Brian Lehrer show on NY public radio (after the Steve Harvey Morning show), and I KNOW its all too much. But since the theme of this blog is whatever I'm thinking about, it is what is. So here we go, in no particular order.

From the VP debate until now I've been thinking about a few things. . . Like who's "Joe six-pack"? And do I really want my government to speak and behave like "Joe 6-pack" on the global stage? Nope. Note to Gov. Palin: our borders are shrinking and gone are the days of isolationism. Is is too much to ask for a government where the leaders are in touch with all varieties of Americans AND be capable of communicating and keep the respect of international heads of state.

I've also been thinking about how I want my leaders to read a variety of publications and journals to know what's going on at home and abroad. . .its not enough just to read what's put in front of you. I've been working since I was 14 years old (summer jobs count, right?) and I never had a boss not have a newspaper with them, in addition to a subscription to a trade journal (I know this because my first jobs were administrative/data entry and I would flip through the stuff). Of course, I'm certain my college professors maintained a subscription to newspapers, journals, etc. Even some of the graduate teaching assistants would copy certain articles and distribute them in class. I say all that to say, I would expect a governor, who is purportedly concerned about Russia, to be able to talk about what she has read, or reads, to keep up with what's going on around the world. I don't think that's an unfair question. Back to Joe Six-Pack. . .Maybe that's what the folksy talk and winking was about? I love the folksy talk about as much as I love text language in regular email - which is to say, I can barely understand it and its aggravating as hell.

Maybe it's just me, but after she's finished going through her memorized talking points, I never know what she's talking about. I'm always left with that "Huh?" feeling.

Before the debate Cindy McCain released some sort of statement about how this is the nastiest campaign that she has ever witnessed or something. When I heard that, during the pre-debate talk, I couldn't believe my ears. I mean, was she really taking a stand against her husband and his puppet? Did she completely forget about her husband's attempt at the presidency in 2000, when Karl Rove & Co. ripped him a new one? I do think planting seeds of doubt i.e. whispering about Senator Obama being a muslim (which I guess would disqualify you from being the President), and talks about him "palling around with a domestic terrorist" is a little nasty and desparate. I don't know, its just weird to hear her say that. Finally, was it just me or did you have to look up from whatever blog you were reading when Senator McCain said "That one". I dismissed it because I wasn't fully paying attention at the time whilst dowloading music for my blog and looking at hsn.com. Anyway, when I got confirmation that McCain did say "That One" . . . .I thought, "Man, this ol'dude is crazy, for real!"

Folks, we have to do better.

Posted by Brainy Brown Girl in NYC at 10/09/2008 10:58:00 PM Comments

I have a sweet tooth. Not candy per we. . . Sure I love the occasional Snickers bar, Reese's butter cup, or a Jolly Rancher . . .but my real love is more dessert like. What I mean is I love cakes, cupcakes, cookies, pies, the occasional crime burly, crepes with nutella chocolate, etc and not so much the fancy stuff at fancy restaurants. For example, one of my favorite desserts of all time is the Warm nut brownie with vanilla ice cream drizzled in caramel sauce offered at Houstons. I don't go to Houstons often, so thankfully I'm not under temptation often. Its simple and simply delicious. I've been to more upscale restaurants (like maybe three times in my life) where the food was excellent, but the dessert was just OK. In any case, a co-worker brought in these Apple Cider donuts that she bought from one of the city's traveling famer markets today. I can't think of a better way to express how I feel right now, so I'll just say it plainly. . . .That donut was the BEST donut I have ever eaten in my life! I don't know the last time I've had a fresh home made donut. When I finished I had to say "Thank you Jesus" as in thank you for apples, brown sugar and whatever else used to make the donuts, and thank you for the hands who made them". They were that good.

I was really close to asking my co-worker where she got them. But I know better. If I knew where I could find them, it would become apart of my routine, I would be hooked. I have a pretty strong will, but when it comes to dessert, its really hard. I limit myself to once a week, usually on the weekend. I eat relatively healthy otherwise, I love my fruits and veggies, and I exercise, and I find I can still achieve results if I cheat just a little bit once a week. Here's another example of my problem - The Mrs. Field's I have to pass on the way home has a 5 for $5 cookie special. When I discovered that, trips to Mrs. Fields became a part of my routine - at least once a week. When I noticed I wasn't losing weight, and in fact, picking up a pound or two, I got my act together quickly. My cookie trips were counterproductive to the 10-12lbs I want to lose in order to get back to my college weight.

I thought I should post this as it was fresh in my mind, even though I'm busy as I don't what. . .and why not keep a log of good memories!.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Posted by Brainy Brown Girl in NYC at 10/02/2008 04:18:00 PM Comments

Posted by Brainy Brown Girl in NYC at 10/01/2008 10:54:00 PM Comments