What a week August 22-28 2011 will go down in the history books for those of us on the East coast of the country. On August 22 in our neighboring state of Virginia an earthquake measuring 5.8 struck. Imagine THAT, an earthquake, then 5 days later a category 1/borderline 2 Hurricane Irene hits the east coast with wind ,rain, and all the damage that comes with such a disaster, I mean REALLY? An earthquake? On the east coast REALLY? It still sounds crazy a week later!! Mother nature has CUT A FOOL and who can blame her, look what we have done to her? I'm surprised more hasn't occurred. And yet here we are another hurricane is forming and now named Katia while fires due to drought spread in parts of the southwest part of the country. I just recently discovered another aftershock hit Virginia just this morning measuring a little over 3. Im like DAG.... you can hardly get yourself together before something else occurs SO what have we learned from one natural disaster to another? Well I don't know about you, but I keeps me some bottled water, candles, batteries, lighters, flashlights, wet wipes, non perishable foods, zip lock bags, trash bags, copies of every important document I have, life insurance policies,passports, car registration, birth certificates, home owners/renters insurance, list of creditors with all the pertinent information, investment documents, drivers license medical insurance information and copies of all medication prescriptions and contact information of all relatives, doctors, friends and clients.
WHEW!!!!... THAT WAS A MOUTHFUL!
The worst time to be looking for the above items is when your belongings are blowing around surrounding areas of where your home USED TO BE. In these uncertain times, where sure... it is important to have faith and belief in the higher good, one MUST be prepared for the unimaginable! So TODAY... this is what I'm going to need for each of you to do. 1. GET A PLAN! What if a natural disaster, or
God forbid another terrorist attack occurs? What is your plan? How will you communicate, where will you or how will you get to your loved ones? Where will you meet? Get a plan people, it's not too far fetched to think any of these possibilities could happen. If you needed to get to your children and you couldn't, who could? Would your child know how to get home?, Do your kids even know all the important information? Name, parent's name, phone numbers ,address? If not, take the time to teach your child that information.
2. GET YOUR SUPPLIES UP! There are some of us who are STILL without power? Here we are 4 days after the hurricane hit the Washington DC area, how are you surviving? What if there was no hotel to go to, no relative or friends to crash with who have electricity, what if we ALL WERE WITHOUT POWER, then what? What would you eat? How would you clean yourselves, water? your pets?
HOW WOULD YOU SURVIVE? I'm not saying you have to build a nucleur bunker, however it would be wreck less to not think it can't happen!!! 10 years ago it happened on 9/11 ,Katrina happened and many people lost EVERYTHING! Some not as lucky so it CAN happen. Get your supplies up, water, food for 4 days for each person. Sounds a bit much, I know, but if something happens, you will be happy you went to Costco, Sam's, or Walmart and got 4 cases of water, fruit cups, applesauce, etc....
3. COPIES COPIES COPIES!!! If your home caught fire, what would you do? Does anyone you love have copies of your important documents? Mine do!! My mother who lives in the Midwest has copies of my birth certificate my daughters, my passport, car information, medical records, life insurance home owners insurance etc.... Even if you place those documents in a safe deposit box just have the documents somewhere else other than where you live.
It truly is amazing that we live in a time where these things have to be even considered but as the old cliche goes IT IS WHAT IT IS, and I would rather be safe than sorry.
In parting, I personally want to send a condolence out to each and every family that lost a loved one from the recent hurricane, and for those who lost their homes and are rebuilding, I truly am sorry for all your heart ache and sorrow. Some of those who lost everything will never be the same however we pray that help and assistance will help to get your lives back on track.
As always GET LIFE BABY, and enjoy your life EVERYDAY, this ain't no dress rehearsal.
And.....GO GET YO WATER, YOUR SUPPLIES AND PLANS IN GEAR, AND GET THOSE COPIES!
TODAY PEOPLE
About Me
- Olivia Fox
- I am a believer in God, a mother, a daughter, a sister and friend. I am purpose driven with intentions of inspiring, provoking thought and dialogue while motivating and changing lives GLOBALLY...
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Monday, August 15, 2011
The Olivia Fox Fix: BACK TO SCHOOL? Really?.....ok wait a minute why i...
The Olivia Fox Fix: BACK TO SCHOOL? Really?.....ok wait a minute why i...: "Well ladies and gentlemen, it has happened again....TIME HAS FLOWN BY and right around the corner for those of us who care, KIDS ARE GOING B..."
BACK TO SCHOOL? Really?.....ok wait a minute why is time flying? Or is it just me
Well ladies and gentlemen, it has happened again....TIME HAS FLOWN BY and right around the corner for those of us who care, KIDS ARE GOING BACK TO SCHOOL!! NOW.... parents, grand parents, guardians, contain your tears of sadness, because your little ones are going back to school
AND FOR SOME OF YOU,somebody Else's PROBLEM...some of yawl know who YOU ARE
(please don't make me put you AND yo baddass kids ON BLAST, kids bout to be some poor teacher's HUGE PROBLEM!....
Whatever your situation is with your "CHEER RUN, some of us are less than a week away from the 1st day of school and some of you have a few weeks left, but whatever it is, there is still time to knock some things out to prepare for the new school year.
First, get organized people. I have only 1 child but getting ready to go back to school can be a handful and at times,a challenge. Sitting down and looking at what was going to be going on in the next couple of months, kinda crazy! Lacrosse, soccer, track, gymnastics, karate, ballet, girl scouts,or is it brownies? mmodeling. acting, does she want to play an instrument, does she want to try tap dancing again, swimming, diving, the list goes on and on. Then there's aftercare,learning a foreign language, tutoring if needed, will she take lunch to school or will she buy it there, will she walk, or ride the bus? So many decisions, so little time.
Here's the thing, if you remember what it was like when you were a kid, and remember what it was like to NOT have every freaking minute of your day scheduled, you will keep this in mind when deciding WITH YOUR KIDS what it is they want to do. So many parents are a trip, and a hot mess, trying to make their kid into the next Michael Jordan, or Venus or Serena Williams, or Mike Vick, pushing the child every single minute of their free time trying to RELIVE their youth through the child!
I knew someone once who was like that, a former athlete who DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE PROS, and now his poor children breathe, eat, and sleep athletics. When I asked him yo do you think they get tired of practicing and rippin and running trying to PLEASE YOU, he says, "THEY LIKE IT"!!! Well of course they do because if they can make daddy proud then they get that love. Some people lack common sense and fail to understand basic child psychology.
Not to say there aren't kids out here who DO ENJOY the sport or activity they are involved in ,the key is to find that activity that they naturally drawn to and enjoy. Nothing sadder than seeing poor kids FORCED TO BE SOMETHING THEIR PARENTS COULD NEVER BE OR DO.
Second, with this economy being as it is, TRASHED.... you know it's bad when the very country you live in has BAD CREDIT!!! (smile) I wouldn't even say the country's credit is bad, but times are hard out here nothing surprises me.
Where was I? My rambling ass.... My 2nd point was to simply get a grip on what you working with. In terms of money and extras because most activities your kids want to participate in cost, in some kind of way. Once you know what's out there available to your child, and they actually have an interest in it, and you can afford it, that's most of the work. Seems kinda simple doesn't it? Giving this information kinda reminds me of that ONE person in EVERY family who is always making a big TA Do about something, quiets everyone down and you think..."EWWWW..... he bout to drop some knowledge" Only to be told some ole OBVIOUS INFORMATION. If you are like me, you are quick to say... WE KNEW THAT... HELL.... SIT YO ASS DOWN SOMEWHERE!!! (smile) as usual I digress.
The moral of this blog is get ready for the upcoming school year, get organized, talk to your kids and find out what interest them, peep your finances, then make your move. I suppose I could have JUST SAID THAT, and this would have been a very short blog. BUT..... you know how I do!!!
As always, get life baby, this ain't no dress rehearsal!!!!
AND FOR SOME OF YOU,somebody Else's PROBLEM...some of yawl know who YOU ARE
(please don't make me put you AND yo baddass kids ON BLAST, kids bout to be some poor teacher's HUGE PROBLEM!....
Whatever your situation is with your "CHEER RUN, some of us are less than a week away from the 1st day of school and some of you have a few weeks left, but whatever it is, there is still time to knock some things out to prepare for the new school year.
First, get organized people. I have only 1 child but getting ready to go back to school can be a handful and at times,a challenge. Sitting down and looking at what was going to be going on in the next couple of months, kinda crazy! Lacrosse, soccer, track, gymnastics, karate, ballet, girl scouts,or is it brownies? mmodeling. acting, does she want to play an instrument, does she want to try tap dancing again, swimming, diving, the list goes on and on. Then there's aftercare,learning a foreign language, tutoring if needed, will she take lunch to school or will she buy it there, will she walk, or ride the bus? So many decisions, so little time.
Here's the thing, if you remember what it was like when you were a kid, and remember what it was like to NOT have every freaking minute of your day scheduled, you will keep this in mind when deciding WITH YOUR KIDS what it is they want to do. So many parents are a trip, and a hot mess, trying to make their kid into the next Michael Jordan, or Venus or Serena Williams, or Mike Vick, pushing the child every single minute of their free time trying to RELIVE their youth through the child!
I knew someone once who was like that, a former athlete who DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE PROS, and now his poor children breathe, eat, and sleep athletics. When I asked him yo do you think they get tired of practicing and rippin and running trying to PLEASE YOU, he says, "THEY LIKE IT"!!! Well of course they do because if they can make daddy proud then they get that love. Some people lack common sense and fail to understand basic child psychology.
Not to say there aren't kids out here who DO ENJOY the sport or activity they are involved in ,the key is to find that activity that they naturally drawn to and enjoy. Nothing sadder than seeing poor kids FORCED TO BE SOMETHING THEIR PARENTS COULD NEVER BE OR DO.
Second, with this economy being as it is, TRASHED.... you know it's bad when the very country you live in has BAD CREDIT!!! (smile) I wouldn't even say the country's credit is bad, but times are hard out here nothing surprises me.
Where was I? My rambling ass.... My 2nd point was to simply get a grip on what you working with. In terms of money and extras because most activities your kids want to participate in cost, in some kind of way. Once you know what's out there available to your child, and they actually have an interest in it, and you can afford it, that's most of the work. Seems kinda simple doesn't it? Giving this information kinda reminds me of that ONE person in EVERY family who is always making a big TA Do about something, quiets everyone down and you think..."EWWWW..... he bout to drop some knowledge" Only to be told some ole OBVIOUS INFORMATION. If you are like me, you are quick to say... WE KNEW THAT... HELL.... SIT YO ASS DOWN SOMEWHERE!!! (smile) as usual I digress.
The moral of this blog is get ready for the upcoming school year, get organized, talk to your kids and find out what interest them, peep your finances, then make your move. I suppose I could have JUST SAID THAT, and this would have been a very short blog. BUT..... you know how I do!!!
As always, get life baby, this ain't no dress rehearsal!!!!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Just keep on living......
My mother, whom I love dearly, her favorite sayings is, "just keep on living" and when she would say it I would imagine, and this is going to sound harsh, but I imagined every time she would say it, IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ING SOUND OF LIVING, I would smash her in the face with a whip cream pie!!! It would annoy me SO BAD, and I guess rightfully so, because as a YOUT
(one of my favorite lines from the movie My Cousin Vinny) it didn't make sense to me. I'm thinking, why do you keep saying that? It really states the obvious momma,
just keep on living? Mommy... you not saying NOTHING...! If one doesn't keep on living? YOU DEAD!! so why in the ham sandwich are you even saying it?
But now that I have a little age on me, and a kid who is 7 going on 37, super intelligent, inquisitive, and always challenging any and everything she is not 100 percent clear on ( my momma says I was the same way, and children are just God's way of getting back at baddass kids who grow up to have children who are the EXACT WAY they were when they were children) I digress.....A.D.D......
Anyway.... dag.... where was I? oh yeah.... so anyway.... now that I am older I finally GET IT!!! You truly have to live, experience, acknowledge, adjust to, deal with, and get over it!!!! As a young person any minor setback, disappointment would destroy me. Crushing.... But as you age ,hopefully.... and
KEEP ON LIVING.... you develop better coping skills. Skills that equip you to handle life's little challenges.
Now..... along with that age and these new coping skills, hopefully you are a person who has learned from the past and make the appropriate adjustments to not have to keep experiencing the same trauma over and over.
I'm going to assume you are a sane person, because insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome So..... if you are sane, you have mastered the ability to discontinue toxic behavior that lands you in the same situation. Be it matters of the heart, your professional life, your personal relationships with friends and or family regardless, you have been able to handle things.
For myself in the past 3 years, my faith in God and understanding and believing God has and always will have a purpose for all that has happened and ultimately ALWAYS HAS my back, my faith has lessened the blows of life's challenges and disappointments. I have found with my faith, it has given me an edge in dealing with stress.
Recently I was having some real personal setbacks, I mean if I had the time and energy to go into the chaos that has surrounded my life, someone would be trying to plan an Olivia Fox Aid Benefit Concert to raise funds for psychological assistance. I can see the t.v. commercials now....
"Wont you give... to this cause".... Olivia Fox.... a seasoned professional caught in the middle of New York Ave in Washington DC. in a tank top with half her GUT and muffin top hanging out, cause her dam shirt is TOO YOUNG and a grass hula skirt talking to herself OUT OF HER MIND, due to too much drama, setbacks, loss, and bad news where she literally is sitting on a cooler with a hair brush in her hand holding a full tilt radio style interview with a stuffed teddy bear sitting in a dirty baby high chair....
I'm hollering cause I SEE IT!.... But we don't have enough time to go into my life and the chaos that it has seen....
But I will tell you, if it wasn't for my faith, and my ability to cope, that imaginary vision would be a reality.
So I say all this to say......The thing I have learned most from mamma's saying "to keep on living", is ..
you age and for most of us, we learn. We learn..... IT IS WHAT IT IS, regardless how traumatic, sad, disappointing, crushing, devastating, IT IS.... WHAT THE HELL YOU THOUGHT IT WAS!...... IT IS.
Redundancy in its finest form. But once you truly acknowledge WHAT IT IS, then..... you HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. Then take responsibility if needed of your role in what that situation is. What did you do or not do? And why did you do what you did? Did you get the lesson?
Next, place the situation in a realistic light. Meaning, so many times it may not be the problem that crushes us, but THE WAY YOU PERCEIVE IT AND REACT TO IT. Perhaps the problem's shadow, which in the mind's eye, is how you perceive the situation, is bigger than what the initial situation is.
Am I making sense? Basically............................
SIT YO ASS DOWN SOMEWHERE AND GET A GRIP!!!! Breathe..... I am the queen of receiving bad news and each time I amaze myself. Because just when I thought.... ewww girl... if someone told me that? Or did that to me?.... I don't know if I could go on. Well guess what? YOU GO ON, and not only do you go on, YOU CAN THRIVE FROM IT, because God has provided you with a testimonial that could quite possibly help another person.
I have been told more than once by perfect strangers, which is strange in itself, but I have been told, my life, my experiences, good and bad, will serve as a testimonial for millions. I have been told as recent as this past Saturday that God has a magnificant plan for my life that will literally blow my mind because of the places and things I will be able to do with my story of faith, perseverance, patience and clarity. And each time I never worry or wonder how this will all come about. I receive it, acknowledge and thank these strangers for their words. But it turns out ,they always hit me with the good...."GOD told me to deliver this message to you!"
People are a trip to me and at least once a day someone says or does something that has me shaking my head and saying;....PEOPLE ARE A TRIP!.... But as I said ,I receive it and today when I opened my laptop, THIS MESSAGE came to me for someone who needed to receive. So.....in closing, I Love you momma and I have learned to love this saying. In fact I caught myself telling my daughter the same thing last week, and after I said it I was looking for a whip cream pie!!!! Hahahahaha....
As always GET LIFE.... this ain't no dress rehearsal.
*By the way... follow me on twitter@oliviafoxradio.... dam shame...... can't go through one blog without
self promoting... Hey.... Just keep on living.......(wink)
(one of my favorite lines from the movie My Cousin Vinny) it didn't make sense to me. I'm thinking, why do you keep saying that? It really states the obvious momma,
just keep on living? Mommy... you not saying NOTHING...! If one doesn't keep on living? YOU DEAD!! so why in the ham sandwich are you even saying it?
But now that I have a little age on me, and a kid who is 7 going on 37, super intelligent, inquisitive, and always challenging any and everything she is not 100 percent clear on ( my momma says I was the same way, and children are just God's way of getting back at baddass kids who grow up to have children who are the EXACT WAY they were when they were children) I digress.....A.D.D......
Anyway.... dag.... where was I? oh yeah.... so anyway.... now that I am older I finally GET IT!!! You truly have to live, experience, acknowledge, adjust to, deal with, and get over it!!!! As a young person any minor setback, disappointment would destroy me. Crushing.... But as you age ,hopefully.... and
KEEP ON LIVING.... you develop better coping skills. Skills that equip you to handle life's little challenges.
Now..... along with that age and these new coping skills, hopefully you are a person who has learned from the past and make the appropriate adjustments to not have to keep experiencing the same trauma over and over.
I'm going to assume you are a sane person, because insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome So..... if you are sane, you have mastered the ability to discontinue toxic behavior that lands you in the same situation. Be it matters of the heart, your professional life, your personal relationships with friends and or family regardless, you have been able to handle things.
For myself in the past 3 years, my faith in God and understanding and believing God has and always will have a purpose for all that has happened and ultimately ALWAYS HAS my back, my faith has lessened the blows of life's challenges and disappointments. I have found with my faith, it has given me an edge in dealing with stress.
Recently I was having some real personal setbacks, I mean if I had the time and energy to go into the chaos that has surrounded my life, someone would be trying to plan an Olivia Fox Aid Benefit Concert to raise funds for psychological assistance. I can see the t.v. commercials now....
"Wont you give... to this cause".... Olivia Fox.... a seasoned professional caught in the middle of New York Ave in Washington DC. in a tank top with half her GUT and muffin top hanging out, cause her dam shirt is TOO YOUNG and a grass hula skirt talking to herself OUT OF HER MIND, due to too much drama, setbacks, loss, and bad news where she literally is sitting on a cooler with a hair brush in her hand holding a full tilt radio style interview with a stuffed teddy bear sitting in a dirty baby high chair....
I'm hollering cause I SEE IT!.... But we don't have enough time to go into my life and the chaos that it has seen....
But I will tell you, if it wasn't for my faith, and my ability to cope, that imaginary vision would be a reality.
So I say all this to say......The thing I have learned most from mamma's saying "to keep on living", is ..
you age and for most of us, we learn. We learn..... IT IS WHAT IT IS, regardless how traumatic, sad, disappointing, crushing, devastating, IT IS.... WHAT THE HELL YOU THOUGHT IT WAS!...... IT IS.
Redundancy in its finest form. But once you truly acknowledge WHAT IT IS, then..... you HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. Then take responsibility if needed of your role in what that situation is. What did you do or not do? And why did you do what you did? Did you get the lesson?
Next, place the situation in a realistic light. Meaning, so many times it may not be the problem that crushes us, but THE WAY YOU PERCEIVE IT AND REACT TO IT. Perhaps the problem's shadow, which in the mind's eye, is how you perceive the situation, is bigger than what the initial situation is.
Am I making sense? Basically............................
SIT YO ASS DOWN SOMEWHERE AND GET A GRIP!!!! Breathe..... I am the queen of receiving bad news and each time I amaze myself. Because just when I thought.... ewww girl... if someone told me that? Or did that to me?.... I don't know if I could go on. Well guess what? YOU GO ON, and not only do you go on, YOU CAN THRIVE FROM IT, because God has provided you with a testimonial that could quite possibly help another person.
I have been told more than once by perfect strangers, which is strange in itself, but I have been told, my life, my experiences, good and bad, will serve as a testimonial for millions. I have been told as recent as this past Saturday that God has a magnificant plan for my life that will literally blow my mind because of the places and things I will be able to do with my story of faith, perseverance, patience and clarity. And each time I never worry or wonder how this will all come about. I receive it, acknowledge and thank these strangers for their words. But it turns out ,they always hit me with the good...."GOD told me to deliver this message to you!"
People are a trip to me and at least once a day someone says or does something that has me shaking my head and saying;....PEOPLE ARE A TRIP!.... But as I said ,I receive it and today when I opened my laptop, THIS MESSAGE came to me for someone who needed to receive. So.....in closing, I Love you momma and I have learned to love this saying. In fact I caught myself telling my daughter the same thing last week, and after I said it I was looking for a whip cream pie!!!! Hahahahaha....
As always GET LIFE.... this ain't no dress rehearsal.
*By the way... follow me on twitter@oliviafoxradio.... dam shame...... can't go through one blog without
self promoting... Hey.... Just keep on living.......(wink)
Monday, June 6, 2011
Family Reunions..... ITS ON!!!!
Summertime is officially in full effect and with this time of the year comes kids being out of school, amusement park visits, June weddings, pool days, and a staple for most African Americans,
THE GOOD FAMILY REUNION. Now I may be wrong, because Lord knows I have been wrong so
many times before, not only wrong, but LOUD AND WRONG! But do other races have family reunions or is it a "black thang"? I have several non African American friends and rarely have I heard them speaking about the annual family reunion ritual. I think family reunions and black folks go together like black folks and the electric slide at a wedding, like black folks and spades and dominoe games, like black folks and hennesy, like black folks and Popeyes chicken, like black folks and pit bulls. Have I used all the stereotypes? But really, everyone I know who is an African American has had, is having or planning the good family reunion, it's apart of us. And isn't it wonderful and fun, everyone who is related to you in some kind of capacity come together for a weekend of fun, picnics, spade games, drinking, eating ,and getting caught up with everyone in the fam.
I just recently attended my family reunion in St. Louis, Missouri my hometown and boy was it fun. Seeing your kin folk, getting reconnected, seeing who is balling, who is not, who has gained weight, lost weight, who is in jail, or ON THAT STUFF, lost hair, had babies, graduated, dropped out, and my favorite seeing how the children in the fam have grown and matured. I love my family, we are fun loving, full of humor who enjoys life. The only part of the reunion that brings sadness is to see who has gone on to the upper room, who has died, (for those who dont know what the upper room is about). But even with that, you can always see how that person has affected those who are still here, and their spirits are felt during the gathering.
So with the family reunion season in full effect I thought I would set some ground rules for those of you who will plan, pack and travel to your family gathering for this years family reunions. If you are traveling out of town, state etc... touch bases with your other relatives that live in your area who are traveling as well. Times are tough, folks are out of work gas is high, make a plan. It may be financially beneficial to travel together, car pool, pull your resources together to get there for less. Know where you are going and make sure if there is fee involved for the activities that they are paid. Don't be that one trifling relative that not only shows up and you haven't paid a quarter towards the fees for the reunion, but you dragging 4 and 5 OTHER FOLK to the reunion and nayer one of ya'll have any money to contribute. Come on man this is your blood, dont do that. Also if you are in charge of buying the t shirts to be handed out to the family at the picnic, CAN YA'LL MAKE SURE THE DAM SHIRTS HAVE THE CORRECT SPELLING ON IT. There is nothing worse than seeing 100s of relatives walking around with tshirts with typos all on the dam shirts.
This one is real important, before congratulating a relative on being pregnant....MAKE SURE THEY ARE PREGNANT. Sometimes we are so quick to run out mouths and say the wrong thing, and trust me there is no way to recover from congratulating a relative on being pregnant and they aren't, they are just swole overweight, and belly is looking like she is about 8 months pregnant.. So how bout this, just dont congratulate anyone on a pregnancy unless you over hear someone else saying so and so is pregnant. Keep an open eye on that member of the family that is known to dabble in an occasional crack binge, you know that cousin always talking bout, "let me hold 10 dollars". My father always taught me WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS..... CRY BROKE!!! Meaning just tell folks you are broke without cash, that way you never have to worry bout folks asking you for money. And finally this is for all the MEN FOLK, and I mean this.....keep in mind, if you are at your family reunion and you trying to holla at a female, there is a good chance...THATS YO DAM COUSIN!!! And stop going around asking folk does it count if you sleep with your 3rd cousin? THAT IS YOUR KIN.... with yo nasty ass!!!! Dang!!!
I hope you all enjoy your summer, to be honest I have no idea where this past school year went. I remember when it started, I remember the Christmas holidays well, but after that? A COMPLETE BLUR. But... we here now, so enjoy it. Remember to get life, this aint no dress rehearsal, get connected with your family
and enjoy!!
THE GOOD FAMILY REUNION. Now I may be wrong, because Lord knows I have been wrong so
many times before, not only wrong, but LOUD AND WRONG! But do other races have family reunions or is it a "black thang"? I have several non African American friends and rarely have I heard them speaking about the annual family reunion ritual. I think family reunions and black folks go together like black folks and the electric slide at a wedding, like black folks and spades and dominoe games, like black folks and hennesy, like black folks and Popeyes chicken, like black folks and pit bulls. Have I used all the stereotypes? But really, everyone I know who is an African American has had, is having or planning the good family reunion, it's apart of us. And isn't it wonderful and fun, everyone who is related to you in some kind of capacity come together for a weekend of fun, picnics, spade games, drinking, eating ,and getting caught up with everyone in the fam.
I just recently attended my family reunion in St. Louis, Missouri my hometown and boy was it fun. Seeing your kin folk, getting reconnected, seeing who is balling, who is not, who has gained weight, lost weight, who is in jail, or ON THAT STUFF, lost hair, had babies, graduated, dropped out, and my favorite seeing how the children in the fam have grown and matured. I love my family, we are fun loving, full of humor who enjoys life. The only part of the reunion that brings sadness is to see who has gone on to the upper room, who has died, (for those who dont know what the upper room is about). But even with that, you can always see how that person has affected those who are still here, and their spirits are felt during the gathering.
So with the family reunion season in full effect I thought I would set some ground rules for those of you who will plan, pack and travel to your family gathering for this years family reunions. If you are traveling out of town, state etc... touch bases with your other relatives that live in your area who are traveling as well. Times are tough, folks are out of work gas is high, make a plan. It may be financially beneficial to travel together, car pool, pull your resources together to get there for less. Know where you are going and make sure if there is fee involved for the activities that they are paid. Don't be that one trifling relative that not only shows up and you haven't paid a quarter towards the fees for the reunion, but you dragging 4 and 5 OTHER FOLK to the reunion and nayer one of ya'll have any money to contribute. Come on man this is your blood, dont do that. Also if you are in charge of buying the t shirts to be handed out to the family at the picnic, CAN YA'LL MAKE SURE THE DAM SHIRTS HAVE THE CORRECT SPELLING ON IT. There is nothing worse than seeing 100s of relatives walking around with tshirts with typos all on the dam shirts.
This one is real important, before congratulating a relative on being pregnant....MAKE SURE THEY ARE PREGNANT. Sometimes we are so quick to run out mouths and say the wrong thing, and trust me there is no way to recover from congratulating a relative on being pregnant and they aren't, they are just swole overweight, and belly is looking like she is about 8 months pregnant.. So how bout this, just dont congratulate anyone on a pregnancy unless you over hear someone else saying so and so is pregnant. Keep an open eye on that member of the family that is known to dabble in an occasional crack binge, you know that cousin always talking bout, "let me hold 10 dollars". My father always taught me WHEN ALL ELSE FAILS..... CRY BROKE!!! Meaning just tell folks you are broke without cash, that way you never have to worry bout folks asking you for money. And finally this is for all the MEN FOLK, and I mean this.....keep in mind, if you are at your family reunion and you trying to holla at a female, there is a good chance...THATS YO DAM COUSIN!!! And stop going around asking folk does it count if you sleep with your 3rd cousin? THAT IS YOUR KIN.... with yo nasty ass!!!! Dang!!!
I hope you all enjoy your summer, to be honest I have no idea where this past school year went. I remember when it started, I remember the Christmas holidays well, but after that? A COMPLETE BLUR. But... we here now, so enjoy it. Remember to get life, this aint no dress rehearsal, get connected with your family
and enjoy!!
Friday, May 13, 2011
The Olivia Fox Fix: What in the ham sandwich am I going to do with the...
The Olivia Fox Fix: What in the ham sandwich am I going to do with the...: "Parents believe it or notl this school year is quickly drawing to an end. I'm scratching my head like....'where did this entire year go so ..."
What in the ham sandwich am I going to do with these kids this summer?
Parents believe it or notl this school year is quickly drawing to an end. I'm scratching my head like...."where did this entire year go so fast?" Be that as it may, as my mom says, its almost over and now the question becomes what in the world am I going to do with these LITTLE BASTARDS for the summer?Ok maybe little bastards is harsh and completely inappropriate, but I CANNOT be the only parent who just wants to say that, at least once!
When I was young, many moons ago, I dont recall my mom and dad worrying about what to do with myself and my 3 older brothers, for the summer break, we were just trying to make it. Technology was NOT like it is today, so we thought everybody was doing what we were doing, letting tomorrow worry bout tomorrow, and enjoying today. Today with the divorce rate at 50 percent, and in most 2 parent homes, both parents are working in some type of capacity, money is tight and gas is outrageous!. Can folk really send kids to these expensive ass summer camps? How about ,golf, swimming, tennis, football, soccer, art, dance and karate lessons, not to mention money for a family summer vacation?
What advice can a mother of one, who salutes all parents who have more than one child, I dont know how ANYBODY raises MORE THAN ON... sorry I digress....here is some simple advice.
1. Get a calendar a planner in front of you, mark the end of the school year, and the day the next year school beginss, break the time up by weeks and then put in activities that are already in place that continue all year round. Like my kid is in horseback riding, it's all year round, put that activity on the planner. Then.... if you are going the camp route, figure out the scheldule of the camp and fill in the days that the camp will take place.
2. Budget, dont let your mouth write a check your bank account can't cover. Kids get hype and if they hear one of their little friends is taking part in a particular activity ,lesson, or camp, they will set you up by telling you that's what they want to do. You get caught up in the kid's enthusiam and say "oh yes that sounds like fun." When you go online to register, you discover this dam camp is 300 dollars A WEEK!! 10 weeks in your summer? YOU KNOW DAM WELL YOU DONT HAVE NO $3000 DOLLARS TO SPEND ON NO CAMP!!! So... with that being said ,check your finances and THEN LOOK AT ALL YOUR OPTIONS. Be sure to check your rec centers in yout area, YMCA and YWCA's and your kid's school usually will always have some kind of magazine, paper or fliers about local day camps.
3.Have fun with it. Last June I lost my job and I was so happy to NOT HAVE TO WORK and enjoy my kid, for the entire month of July we had MOMMY CAMP. I looked at all the places, and activities we could do and each day was something different. On a Monday we would go to the library in the morning, swimming in the early afternoon, then go home and either watch a video or do crafts. The next day we went to the zoo and then cooked dinner by following a recipe together and me being the creative, over hyping a simple thing, pro, by adding some flavor to the simple activity of cooking dinner, I told her we were going to play FRENCH CUISINE and put on aprons and top white chef hats and cook up a meal. It was so much fun.
Just remember these activities dont have to cost alot, picnics are free, most museums and library visits are free, zoo free, parks for hiking ,bicycling free. Going to the beach is the best, if you plan ahead you can get great hotel rates and make it a special 3 or 4 day long weekend and THAT IS YOUR SUMMER GET AWAY.
Look, times are hard, and children are little leaches who suck the life right out of you! Hahahaha... with your wallet following close behind, but all kidding a side, the thing about children is they grow up so fast and their youth is on a fast track and YOU CANT GET THE TIME BACK once it is gone. Most of us work, but the time you DO HAVE enjoy your kids. Because when they are grown and don't want to be bothered with yo old ass....you will wish you had taken the time to go camping in your back yard and hype it up as a fabulous retreat to back to nature.(smile)
Remember... this and RAISING KIDS,THERE ARE NO DRESS REHEARSALS!! Get life and enjoy them little bastards!! Ooops there I go again, thinking out loud.!!!
ROFLMAO. Enjoy your kids!!!!
When I was young, many moons ago, I dont recall my mom and dad worrying about what to do with myself and my 3 older brothers, for the summer break, we were just trying to make it. Technology was NOT like it is today, so we thought everybody was doing what we were doing, letting tomorrow worry bout tomorrow, and enjoying today. Today with the divorce rate at 50 percent, and in most 2 parent homes, both parents are working in some type of capacity, money is tight and gas is outrageous!. Can folk really send kids to these expensive ass summer camps? How about ,golf, swimming, tennis, football, soccer, art, dance and karate lessons, not to mention money for a family summer vacation?
What advice can a mother of one, who salutes all parents who have more than one child, I dont know how ANYBODY raises MORE THAN ON... sorry I digress....here is some simple advice.
1. Get a calendar a planner in front of you, mark the end of the school year, and the day the next year school beginss, break the time up by weeks and then put in activities that are already in place that continue all year round. Like my kid is in horseback riding, it's all year round, put that activity on the planner. Then.... if you are going the camp route, figure out the scheldule of the camp and fill in the days that the camp will take place.
2. Budget, dont let your mouth write a check your bank account can't cover. Kids get hype and if they hear one of their little friends is taking part in a particular activity ,lesson, or camp, they will set you up by telling you that's what they want to do. You get caught up in the kid's enthusiam and say "oh yes that sounds like fun." When you go online to register, you discover this dam camp is 300 dollars A WEEK!! 10 weeks in your summer? YOU KNOW DAM WELL YOU DONT HAVE NO $3000 DOLLARS TO SPEND ON NO CAMP!!! So... with that being said ,check your finances and THEN LOOK AT ALL YOUR OPTIONS. Be sure to check your rec centers in yout area, YMCA and YWCA's and your kid's school usually will always have some kind of magazine, paper or fliers about local day camps.
3.Have fun with it. Last June I lost my job and I was so happy to NOT HAVE TO WORK and enjoy my kid, for the entire month of July we had MOMMY CAMP. I looked at all the places, and activities we could do and each day was something different. On a Monday we would go to the library in the morning, swimming in the early afternoon, then go home and either watch a video or do crafts. The next day we went to the zoo and then cooked dinner by following a recipe together and me being the creative, over hyping a simple thing, pro, by adding some flavor to the simple activity of cooking dinner, I told her we were going to play FRENCH CUISINE and put on aprons and top white chef hats and cook up a meal. It was so much fun.
Just remember these activities dont have to cost alot, picnics are free, most museums and library visits are free, zoo free, parks for hiking ,bicycling free. Going to the beach is the best, if you plan ahead you can get great hotel rates and make it a special 3 or 4 day long weekend and THAT IS YOUR SUMMER GET AWAY.
Look, times are hard, and children are little leaches who suck the life right out of you! Hahahaha... with your wallet following close behind, but all kidding a side, the thing about children is they grow up so fast and their youth is on a fast track and YOU CANT GET THE TIME BACK once it is gone. Most of us work, but the time you DO HAVE enjoy your kids. Because when they are grown and don't want to be bothered with yo old ass....you will wish you had taken the time to go camping in your back yard and hype it up as a fabulous retreat to back to nature.(smile)
Remember... this and RAISING KIDS,THERE ARE NO DRESS REHEARSALS!! Get life and enjoy them little bastards!! Ooops there I go again, thinking out loud.!!!
ROFLMAO. Enjoy your kids!!!!
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