Be THANKFUL for the Life You Have!

So I'm sitting here bored at work doing nothing...wishing that time would do a line of coke and speed the Heck up! (Sidenote: Don't do DRUGS!, crack is whack, coke is a joke...I prefer to Live Above the Infuence, lol and that's all that I advocate.) Even though I get off at noon today I still wish that time would progress as smoothly as it does on the days that I feel all bogged down but whatever, it's all good, sitting here made me start thinking about this upcoming trip to Detroit my familia is taking for Thanksgiving and it made me think of Thanksgiving and what I'm thankful for and about the holidays and how the holidays are always like times of reflection for people, at least to those that reflect. (I'm so not going to assume that everyone 'reflects' because my experience has shown me that some do not evaluate or self-evaluate, that's another post for real.) I just started thinking about all the things I'm grateful for and some of the things that popped in my head were just hilarious, so I decided to come here and list them...I mean it's not like I have anything bettter to do, lol.

I'M THANKFUL FOR.... (in no particular order):
-Fingernail polish. Painting my nails grew to be a very calming, therapuetic occasion in my life. It helped to reduce the nail biting (though I do enjoy chipping the nail polish off when it's at the end of it's run) and it was fun to watch the nails grow. Progress in a beautiful cool form. If it weren't for all the cool fingernail polishes I was able to find, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy taking moments to myself and painting my nails. So yes, I really am thankful for nail polish, it makes me happy.
-My Goodness, My Family. I loooooove my family. They all crack me up like no one can, love me like only they can, and support me in a way that is incomparable to the other support I receive in my life (except G-O-D's of course). I'm thankful for that foundation. This includes my ENTIRE family, not just the immediate
-The World Wide Web. Without it, I would be sitting here staring at wooden panel walls and pictures of people that look like they could be fake. The internet is cool, you can find out so much.
-Nature, oh sweet Nature. I'm thankful for nature, not so much the outdoors part of it all (meaning less than desirable weather conditions, bugs, birds, etc), but definitely the NATURAL part of it all. This Earth grows so much Great stuff that really shows us that God really wants us to be happy ;)
-My Homies. I'm so thankful for the friends that I rank as HOMIES. No need to list them, because those that are homies have no question about their status w/ me. I love the laughs, the good times, the memories, the support! Homies are the Family I choose.
-Music, duh. Of course. Music gets me through many many many many situations. Work, stress, workouts, walking, drifting, all sorts of moments are made so much better with music. I love my Music like it's MY Music...Music is Fun, it can be real, I just love it, always seems to make me want to dance, even if it is a two step....lol. Plus without music, there would be no concerts, which I love.
-Facebook. I really do have a love/hate relationship with Facebook but overall it never fails in giving me that Good Laugh when I least expect it. Fbook can be downright annoying sometimes but honestly sometimes it's just the click of a button, and the reading of a few words, and it's like I'll literally laugh out loud. Facebook is great.
-Carmex. It really is my best friend throughout winter. Without it my lips tend to hurt really bad.
-Boys, in general. You bring the entertainment, the comedy to my life. They usually always crack me up. Whether I'm laughing with them or at them it's always a good time. Either way they usually bring a smile to my face, so I'm thankful.
-Sidekicks. Sidekicks are cool, I really do love my Sidekick I can do quite a bit with it, though it doesn't have a touch screen, it is efficient (when the network isn't messing up) and I like that. I love texting, and this phone is clutch for that.
-Colors. I really like them, I think they're cool especially when they are organized on to items in an eye-catching fashionable manner. I just like colors. My family tells me I'm colorful...because I like color so much and I chose to express it in my dress, accessories, and nail polish :)
-Blankets. Because I'm quite sure it's impossible for me to sleep without one. Even if I get hot, I get from under it, but keep it close.
-Faith & Hope. Without those two things I don't think I would have made it through this year. I found them to be the answers to my most troublesome questions.
-Chuck Taylors. I think they're cool, and they come in cool colors and designs sometimes.
-Skinny Jeans. Because they're hot, and they help show off my za-pa-tos (spoken how it's seen, but the word is zapatos, or shoes in english) Plus I spent majority of my life dedicated to the flare jean so it's time I let another style shine.
-My Lost Ones. To the friends I 'lost' (Lost as in gone forever or that may prove to be just lost for awhile...only time will tell) I truly am thankful because each one's journey through my life taught me so much about this life and myself and I can't see how I would have gotten to the really good place I'm at right now had I not had each experience. I am just thankful and I' happy and I wish everyone of the 'ones' the best for real.
-My J-O-B. Only because I'm chasing that paper though. Stack That Cheese.
-My future. Because like I said to my G.I.G back when we were graduating (Class of '05 stand up) "Our Future's So Bright, We Just Gotta Wear Shades!" the statement still holds true today.
-Turtles. Because they're cool and they gave me a great tattoo idea that I finally went and got.
-Auto-tone. Lol because it helped give us 808's and Heartbreak...and Chopped and Screwed ft. Ludacris. I'm being silly......but for real..lol
-The Creator. Because his Master Plan is so darn good that it is responsible for everything we see in front of us and everything that will be.
-Of Course Barack and Michelle Obama. They're doing what many thought impossible not so many years ago ("I know it seems heaven sent/we ain't ready to see a Black President" -Tupac) They are redifining a culture and a society's overall predetermined expectations for a people. I love it and God Bless the President Elect of the United States of America, Barack Obama.
-Indiana. Even though it was split down the middle thank you for going Blue. I'm proud to be a Hoosier, knowing that all ya'll aren't that bad and for refuting the long held belief that I and other people have held about you all being low key racist. <--JOKE. Kind of. LoL
-The Thanksgiving Holiday. Because that means I don't have to see the faces of the people I work with for a full four days. Wowser. Now that is something to shout about
-Casual Fridays. It makes things a little bit easier in my mind when I can wear my chucks and hoodie into work, because they don't think the heat should be turned on for some reason.
-My mind. Thought it gets sidetracked often, and my memory is not what it used to be. I
m thankful for my logic, as I've stated before, "I'm just married to my logic..." and honestly I don't see a divorce coming anytime soon. At least until I find something better.

That's bout all I got for now...who knows I may update more throughout the day, who knows. Haha that's another thing I'm grateful for, FREE WILL.

PEAAAACCCEE and MUCH LOVE, and Happy Thanksgiving - spend time with ur Loved Ones,
JessalaineJessalaine

Dear Kanye West....

Getting ready to listen to 808's and Heartbreak....I decided to 'chilll' for a moment en el garaje, then I came inside, put my pjs on, hopped in bed, and just to make sure I was on point I listened to "Through The Wire" from the College Dropout, a song that me and the ladies heard on the way back from Columbus and when it was over we were all like, "man everything he said on this song was so true" and "this is why no matter what I'll be getting 808's and Heartbreak...'history in the making man'" Before that though I did listen to Rihanna ft. Jay-Z "Umbrella" b/c I don't know all I know musically I'm a FRIEND of Kanye West for Life...like that man is Touched and I think that those that don't feel him should just not speak on the issue...because those that do feel him FEEL him and really don't care what you all think :P (he who does not feel me, is not real to me, therefore he doesn't exist, Vamos Son of A B*tch -Hov)

I found the New York Times Review on the internet, it has some questionable parts that I didn't like but I did like at the end where it says,
"No less a branding visionary than 50 Cent, whom Mr. West last year famously outsold in head-to-head first-week record sales, has criticized Mr. West’s direction on this album, telling MTV, “I don’t think the public will forgive him for it.” (He added, “I think his album is T-Pain’s record, but I’d rather buy it from T-Pain.”) 50’s wrong on at least one count, though: Mr. West’s fans aren’t loyal to form, they’re loyal to him."

Word.

Sidenote: This reviewer could have ended his review with that but he had to tag on, "But Mr. West is testing that commitment. For all his self-scrutiny, he has never truly demanded emotional investment."

Like I said musically I am a friend of Kanye West. We're supposed to be there for our friends when they have their moments. I remember telling my LOVE a brief overview of what people were saying about this album back in September and I just said, "Man, he's clearly just been through some things so I just gotta support him...no matter the sound" I basically think that if 'Mr. West' is testing his fans committment then he is about to pass with flying colors...as he always does.

Here's the link to the review article, check it out yo: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/25/arts/music/25kany.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Great Idea: I definitely think that Kanye West and Fall Out Boy should do a mash-up album...either one of select songs from each of their careers or one of 808's & Heartbreak..mixed with one of FOB's albums (I'll wait to say which one would sound best until I hear FOB's new album......anxious for that one too.) I also thought it would be tight to hear Fall Out Boy cover all of 808's & Heartbreak...that would be hard. I might love it better than Jay-Z and Linkin Park's Collison Course...that is if it were to come about...

To say the least, I really did LOVE 808's & Heartbreak, and I'm not just saying that because it's by Kanye West. It was definitely an album FOR Kanye that I really think he needed to make in order to get him to the Legendary, Iconic, Historical place/spot which his destiny commands that he occupies. I applaud him for taking this chance and putting himself out there when *he is/was/may still be vulnerable*

*Disclaimer: I do not know Kanye West personally, So i can not speak to his state of mind but I just feel when you show your heart the way in which he has on 808's & Heartbreak you are bound to have experienced or experience some sort of vulnerability.

I guess this was one of those fan type blogs...IDK it's late at night and I'm just drifting/typing/blah blah blah

Peace&Love
JessalaineJessalaine

COP THAT 808's & Heartbreak...at least do yourself a favor and sit and listen to it all the way through.

sweeetnesssss from mi dia

The internet is so cool and I honestly am not even that much into technology at all but I really think that the Internet was the BEST invention EVER....well next to electricity and only because without electricity there would be no internet. I say that be.cause you can do so much stuff these days with the internet...like it's endless really. I have a class in a virtual world. Yes a class at The Ohio State University that meets in this place called Second Life (just google that ish...and you will be amazed..if you haven't already heard about it) I don't necessarily like all that but I do like this blog and I do like my Gmail, my facebook, my myspace, google, bossip, kanye's blog, and i just got put on to imeem which I think I might like as well. Saying alllll that to say that I really enjoy my iGoogle home page...from the theme all the way down to my add-on, "Reminders from God" which gave me this little token upon opening my browser:

All walls shall fall before you. Your faith and My power are the only two essentials. So if man’s petty opposition still holds, it is only because I choose to let it stand between you and what would be a mistake for you.

--Two Listeners

And to that all I could say is, "Cool."


On Another Note:
I bought two books today, I remember in high school when I was stressed out I would go to the bookstore and buy books...I'm nerd and cool with it :) Funny thing though when I got to college and life stressed me I bought clothes...so I guess that makes me a Cool Nerd now...and I'm cool with that too. (Sidenote: I should make more of an effort to alternate between books and clothes when I'm engaging in 'shop therapy/mind-freeing'....that way I don't overdose on the cool...only my fellow Lupe Lovers will understand the last half of that)

I bought: The Definitive Guide to Stuff White People Like The Unique Taste of Millions and The Wisdom of The Ancient Greeks. Mind stimulating kind of stuff....at least to my mind.

Stuff White People Like will probably have me laughing for days and The Wisdom of the Ancient Greeks will add to my uhhhh.....'vocabulary' or 'collection of random quotes/advice/blah blah blah' I don't know what to call it but I already found some interesting thought provoking things in the book....which I'll drop later on because Procrastination has gotten the best of me one again and there is a paper I must tend to. And while I'm writing the paper I'm going to pretend to be paying attention in my online class that meets in Second Life. Multi-tasking at it's...worst.

Peace&MuchLove
Jessalaine

"And they'll know we are Christians by our Love, by our Love..."

I know I am a little bit late on this Special Comment from Keith Olbermann (I believed it was aired on 11/10/08). I really do think this Special Comment is amazing because as he stated in the beginning he has no personal stake in the Proposition, but he eloquently talks about why he is dismayed about it and he effectively, in my opinion, compels other people to consider the reasons they are supporting it. I am not going to sum it up to much because I've already embedded it into this post, so watch it if you haven't watched it yet. :)

Did you watch it????

DO It.

Ok now we're ready for my 'two cents' on the issue:

You know, I was raised Apostolic. It is very similar to Pentecostal, however, I would say a tad bit more strict. The church taught me that piercings, tattoos, makeup, sex (before marriage), rock n roll, girls should only wear skirts (not short ones), and of course that homosexuality is HUGE Heck NO. All this was laid upon me as a child in conjuction with the Christian principles that my Pastors and Parents taught me. I am very much so in Love with the Christian beliefs that live within my foundation. I truly believe without them I would be NOTHING. However, as I got older and my family's experience with the Apostolic church progressed I started to find little contradictions that made me really reject the rules and regulations that aren't created by God, as seen in the Bible, but are created based on some Man's interpretation of God's word. Thankfully, I was able to distinguish between God's Word and Will and a Man's Word and Will which only proved to bring me closer to God which is what all religions ultimate goal should be. (The ultimate goal being, bring followers closer to the supreme deity being worshipped by the respective religion.)

God is Love (see John 4:16). Those are three words that every Christian must understand I feel to really make the steps to living the righteous life that God has intended for us to live, or simply to just be a Good Christian. We are all supposed to be striving to be like God/Jesus and if that is the case then we must always respond in Love and let Love guide our actions. John 3:16 states that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This scripture demonstrates the Love that God himself showed to a world that had yet to learn to honor, love, and fear him. In John 15:13 it says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." you are able to see something on the Love that Jesus showed when he allowed his crucifixition. (Yes he allowed it, because Jesus did have a choice and it took him 33 years to understand and accept the choice he made.) Jesus had to die in order for anyone that came before or after him who believed in God to have everlasting life. He had to justify the love that God had showed to the world and the only way he could do that was through an act of love just as awesome. All of this love was shown with no regards to the amount of sin that was going on during the time period. Great acts of love despite less than desirable circumstances. And when all this was said and done God commanded that we should love one another as he has loved us (John 15:12).

With all the Bible "quoting" (paraphrasing is probably a better word) that goes on to justify homophobia, I just presented three scriptures that flat out expose the ungodliness in the discrimination and hate shown towards homosexuals. We were not put on this earth to pass judgement on anyone (see the Ten Commandments). We are humans, born into a world of sin and unable to be perfect while on this Earth. However, God did create a straight and narrow path that we should follow in order to navigate this world. That path is depicted in the moral of the Crucifixition story. That path is Love. It is straight and narrow because how hard is it to Love someone that has done you wrong, or to love someone that you believe is doing wrong. It's hard but you know what Jesus, who walked the same Earth and encountered the same world as us, somehow was able to do it. Despite what he saw, what he heard, and how he was treated, he still laid down his life so that we would have a chance.

I say all that to say this: First of all, we can not point the finger to condemn anybody. He who is without sin please cast the first stone at homosexual couples that are just trying to make the best out of the world they live in and marry the one they love like everyone else is able to. No sin is greater than another sin. So yes, you who cheats on your wife, you who chooses to steal, and lie, are just as much a sinner as someone who chooses to have sex/love someone of the same sex. We will all be judged accordingly to our OWN WORKS on this Earth so what concern is it to anybody what works someone else will be judged upon?

Second of all, we are supposed to hate the sin but love the sinner. As Christians we should not be taking any steps that discriminate against another human being. We can say well it's to keep the world "pure" or whatever, but this world is not our home and it will one day perish, we need to stop trying to create Heaven on Earth because that cannot exist. So what happens in this world that is unlike God should just be of no concern to us. We are called to show our Christianly love to people in order to bring people closer to God. Showing hate, spewing hate, will not turn anyone into the God-fearing Christian you want them to be.

I think the world, christions, and other religious folk have sincerely messed up because they have become more concerned with condemnation instead of salvation. They are more concerned with passing judgements on people and saying what one individual can and can't do that they have forgotten that we are supposed to Love and that we are supposed to spread the message of God (God is Love...thus the message of Love) to everyone. As a matter of fact 1 John 4:8 states that "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is Love." I just wish everyone that claims to be a Christian would remember what it really means to be a Christian and TRULY submerge yourself in God's word and develop a personal relationship with him so that the meaning of his words can be revealed to you.

IDK....

I just know that I'm not allowed to cast judgement. I know that I am supposed to love my neighbor. I know that God didn't send me here to stop sin because sin is an inevitable in this world. He did send me here to spread Love though and that's what I'm going to do.

Allowing homosexual couples to get married will not hurt anyone! It will only hurt people's 'moral conscious.' And instead of responding with hate and restriction to something that you hold in your heart as wrong, why not show love and believe that the only thing that can conquer sin is God himself. If we as humans could do something, the Devil and sin would have been eliminated already. I know this because the Devil makes me MAD! And I honestly say God just give me one round and I'll take care of him, I'm sure a human bold enough would have emerged by now to conquer the thing that brings nothing but lies, destruction and deceit. God will deal with us sinners when we meet him. All I can do is share the Love and Word of God when I get the chance and hope that people are doing that with me so as we all stumble down this road called Life we make sure that we stay on the straight and narrow.

Christians, Religious Folk: stop judging and condemning. start loving and teaching...and watch how many people you can bring to a place where they understand, appreciate and LOVE the Love of God.

Waxing Poetic....a humble attempt

(Note: I never share my 'poetry.' I don't think I'm a poet with my words, rather I lace my prose with eloquence..or try to. However, there are those moments, where prose won't do and my pencil hits paper and produces a 'poem.' LEAVE YOUR FEEDBACK YO!)

Peace&MuchLove
JessalaineJessalaine

"For My Lost Ones"

I'm just letting go

For Once Without Anger

I'd prefer to be a stranger

Really need to close my eyes

Forget the lies, Fuck the Lies

Fuck the Tries, Forget the tries

Forget the truth...Truth forsaken

Far too long, my eyes remained open

Building this burden, building this Burden

Too scared to shut them

Still my eyes I can't condemn

Yet unsure of what's to blame

The Love of the Game?

The Images on Exhibition?

All just wasted convictions, that lead to no Conviction.

So to let go of the Fears

I released some of my Tears.

Never knew that to get by

I would have to cry...

Cry

For the memories lost

Sold at an unfamiliar cost

Cry

And steady Pray on my mistakes stacked

For one chance to take 'em all back

Wonder what took so long

Believing I had to stay strong

Believed my eye had to be on the Prize

Though it cared more about its Disguise

Still had to let go of my Tears

To finally release the Fears

I had to let go

(c) j.e.l