Time is Money

I'm annoyed.  I clearly seem to be the only one in the house that values time. 

When going to a 6pm class, my husband will leave at 5:30.  Which leaves no "just in case time".  You know, just in case traffic is bad, just in case he needs to stop...instead he has "I just may make it by 5 after" syndrome.  Yet he sees nothing wrong with this.

My younger son is the same way and it burns my biscuit.   He will leave the condo at 7:15 to catch the bus that comes at 7:19.  More often than not, he misses the bus.

I was in the Navy for 8 years, to be late is to be ontime therefore be early.  That was my motto.  It still is.  If I have to be somewhere at 9, I leave at 7:45, to account for traffic and whatnot.  This usually gives me time to collect myself before I go in to the meeting or appointment.   If someone tells me an event starts at 7, I want to be there at 7.  I get annoyed when my husband isn't ready.  This happened while we were on vacation.  The family had dinner scheduled for 8 and he was not ready to leave the hotel until 7:45.  It was a half an hour ride.  By 8:05 the family was calling me (they are sticklers for time just like I am) and I was sitting in the passenger seat fuming.


I am trying to break out of this.  Trying not to be so easily annoyed.  But it's not working.

Today, my son had a doctor's appointment at 2:15.  At 2:12 I was getting text messages asking about the address for the GPS.  grrrrrr  Are you for real?!?!?!?!?  At 2:33 I was getting a phone call asking about the suite number.  You're kidding right?!?!?!?!?!?!?  I am trying not to be annoyed but I can't stand tardiness.   Am I being unreasonable?

What do you mean "No Free Speech"??????

Is it really online piracy?  Well there is legislation out there that wants to limit information you can get from places like Google and Wikipedia. 

Wikipedia proudly proclaims:

Imagine a World
Without Free Knowledge

For over a decade, we have spent millions of hours building the largest encyclopedia in human history. Right now, the U.S. Congress is considering legislation that could fatally damage the free and open Internet. For 24 hours, to raise awareness, we are blacking out Wikipedia. Learn more.



Wikipedia was built by the people for the people by collecting information from various sources and putting it in one location.  To me, this bill is trying to regulate what should not be regulated : The freedom of speech.  There are also those in Congress who want to tax internet purchases and monitor any and everything written.  That includes us as Bloggers.  Think about it, most of us blog about things we have seen or read somewhere else.  We give commentary on current events, news articles, celebrity gossip and more.  With this new pending legislation, it equates to censorship.  I mean really, how can you tell me if I talk about something that I have read elsewhere like on CNN etc, that it equates to piracy.  That is ludicrous.  How do these bills protect intellectual property?  Well let's look at what IP is :

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind: inventions, literary and artistic works, and symbols, names, images, and designs used in commerce.
IP is divided into two categories:  Industrial property, which includes inventions (patents), trademarks, industrial designs, and geographic indications of source; and Copyright, which includes literary and artistic works such as novels, poems and plays, films, musical works, artistic works such as drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures, and architectural designs.  Rights related to copyright include those of performing artists in their performances, producers of phonograms in their recordings, and those of broadcasters in their radio and television programs.

So how does a collection of facts and historical items equate to intellectual property?  If the entry is talking about Edgar Allen Poe and it cites his works and gives credit to the source which are books etc, how is that different from any other encyclopedia with the exception that it is online?  Let's be real here, this is really about money.  At the end of the day, it is about charging for the regurgitation of information.  That is like telling me I can't quote someone when I am talking.  You can't regulate me talking so just how are you going to regulate someone typing?!?!?!? 

I have a Dream

Happy MLK Day, Bloggers!

Everything that has been accomplished started with a dream.  Think about it...

• The Wright brothers, dreamed of flying, their dream changed travel as we know it.  Where it used to take weeks to get somewhere by boat, it now takes hours by flight.
• Henry Ford dreamed of a faster way to get around than horse and buggy, cars and motorized transportation are now a part of our everyday lives. 

Martin Luther King had a dream, too.  While on the surface, it may seem as if we have achieved his dream, we really haven't.  We still don't have total equality.  Men and women are still treated different in the workplace.  There is still disparity in pay whether by gender, race or sexual orientation.  Yes, we do have a black president, but there are still those who won't judge him on the content of his character because they can't get pass the color of his skin.   Instead of focusing on what he has accomplished, they focus on what is still messed up.  Truth be told, it is stuff that was raggedy when he took office but those who want to show him in a negative light won't acknowledge that part.  There are still those that have a voice and a vote in congress that would rather see the country go down in flames than support an idea put on the table by Barack Obama.  Yes, we have come a long way since Martin had a dream, but we still have a very long way to go. 

I will leave you with one of my most requested spoken word pieces :

Color of Skin

GIPSEE 

_{Copyright © 2004}

You put on your fancy suits and ties,

And think that makes you different in their eyes?

Doesn’t matter that you speak eloquently

Doesn’t matter how many degrees

Or how you try to appease…

You’re living in a fantasy…

But you don’t have to take it from me…

Society doesn’t care what’s within…

They still look at the color of your skin.

Walking around like a corporate clone

Like you belong

Look at every milestone…

What about the chances you have blown…

To strengthen your backbone

Who coulda’ known

That you weren’t  so strong?

When your life hit a tailspin

Looking where you have been

You realize it’s still the color of your skin.

You are naïve

If you believe

That as equal you can even be perceived

Your freedom they still bereave

When you long to be free

Are you any different from me?

Look at it through thick and thin

It still the color of your skin.

Working in the fields you don’t do

But you still don’t have a clue

From the cradle to the grave

You are still just a slave.

Instead of whips and chains

They use your desire to obtain

What you think are the same

Rights in the game

But the fact remains, lamebrain,

All they hold for your is disdain

Are you insane?

In spite of your chagrin…

It is still the color of your skin.

20 Questions...the Grown-up edition

Tired of all of those surveys made up by high school kids? Have you ever kissed someone? Missed someone? Told someone you loved them? Drank alcohol? Here you have 20 questions for the people who are a little older... Tag me when you finish.

1. What bill do you hate paying the most?
The MORTGAGE...grateful to have a place to lay my head...wish it was already paid for. LOL

2. Where was the last place you had a romantic dinner?
hmmm Home...hubby cooked. kids were gone...candles everywhere...ahhh I love being married *sigh*


3. What do you really want to be doing right now?
Nothing...like at home feet up doing absolutely nuffin :)

4. How many colleges did you attend?
Two

5. What are your thoughts on gas prices?
I now live somewhat in the city but my job is not on the transit line or I would be on MARTA like a mugg.

6. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
Dagnabbit it's 5 already?!?!?!

7. Last thought before going to sleep last night?
My hubby sure does take care of me (I wasn't feeling well and he had just given me meds and was rubbing my head as I fell asleep)

8. Do you miss being a child?
Sometimes. I miss the carefree me.

9. What errand/chore do you despise?
Cleaning the bathroom...uggg especially behind boys/men.

10. Have you found real love yet?
Yes; His name is Jesus...Have you met Him? Want me to introduce you? ;) Between Jesus and my hubby I am batting 1,000,000 in the Love department.

11. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
Nope...but just something we all need to put more thought and care into.

12. Have you ever crashed your vehicle?
Not the current one. *snicker*

13. At this point in your life would you rather start a new career or a new relationship?
New career.

14. Are you where you want to be in life?
No...but I think I am fast approaching it. ;)

15. What about you do you think has changed the most?
My beliefs and drive. I am driven but I realize time is short and I can't take life for granted.

16. Looking back at high school were they the best years of your life?
No, but I love my friends from that time. I would say my Navy years were the best!

17. Where was the hang out spot when you were a teenager?
Metro Center, Riverside park, Iverson Mall

18. Were you the type of kid you would want your children to hang out with?
Ummm in some respects yes, I was really into school...but after work was done...I was all for fun and was kind of hardheaded. LOL The hardheaded me could not be my kids friend...Think Eddie Haskell from leave it to beaver LOL

19. Who do you think impacted your life the most?
My kids and relationship with God. Taught me to be more selfless instead of selfish.

20. Do you tell stories that start with “when I was your age”?
All the time..lol

12 things in 2012

So I was thinking, I really haven't introduced myself to you properly. So I am writing this post called 12 things...because they are 12 things about me.


12. I was born in Athens, Greece and have dual citizenship.

11. I spent 8 years in the Navy

10. I am the middle child and I have some tell-tale middle child tendencies and quirkiness

9. I am more comfortable in my skin at 42 than I have EVER been. I think it comes from realizing just how short and precious life really is.

8. I am an introverted extrovert. What does that mean? I prefer solitude over crowds. While I can blend and mix in any environment, I don't like to feel like I'm "On" all the time. Being extroverted is a chore to me. That is why acting is a perfect hobby. :)

7. I have lived on 5 continents. (North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa)

6. I was a state officer for 2 years in Phi Beta Lambda and ran for National one year. This is the college chapter of FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America.)

5. I read daily and have the Amazon Kindle app on my phone. I keep anywhere from 5 - 10 active books on it.

4. I am an IT geek. I have both an IT degree and a business degree.

3. I have a photographic memory.

2. I love logic games and play grid detective and Sudoku everyday.

1. I worked in IT forensics for 5 years and spoke at a national convention for Litigation Analysts.

Dreams and Visions

Hey blogland!

I was sitting here thinking about my dreams. Actually, to be honest it started with me thinking about my vision board. Last year I went to a "Vision Board" party.
First, a Vision Board is made up of pictures, words or symbols cut out of a magazine to symbolize what you want to achieve that year.


Let me tell you about some of my "Visions"

1) I had a small simple string of words "How I came to terms with my mother." This was done in January 2011...long before we knew my mom was sick and certainly before we knew she was terminal. I had some unresolved "mommy" issues. I always thought my mom was hard on me and just didn't "get me" and was "unsupportive" of my acting dreams. Well I was able to talk to her in depth during her last few months and found that not only did she support me, she was my biggest fan. Telling anyone who would listen about me. It just goes to show that perception is not always reality. I spent all those years thinking my mom didn't really like me and the reality of it was she loved me so much she was hard on me when she knew I could do better.


2) There was a picture of a car surrounded by people with "Just Married" on the back and there was an engagement ring somewhere on the board. This was strange because at the time, I was single. But this was part of my vision that last year I would meet my husband. I know you are probably thinking I just wanted this to come true and so I got married. Not true at all. In fact, I am one of those "I would rather never be married than married and divorced" folks. I have been asked before (at least 4 times) it just never felt right until now. What is so weird is I did my vision board in January and did EXACTLY what you are not supposed to do...I rolled it up and put it out of sight and out of mind. The whole purpose is so you can visualize things you want to achieve. I reconnected with the love of my life from my 20s. It's not like we ever lost touch, we just reconnected romantically. We remained friends after dating for 3 years. Last year we realized we were better together and we got married on Sept. 23rd.

3) There was a director's chair. I'm still striving on the acting front but when my mom was sick I put that on hold. After my mom passed, I threw myself back into work and acting. I was a stage manager for a play in December and have been writing a bit more. I eventually want to write and direct thus the director's chair. I have some exciting things that I am working on but until they come to fruition I have to sit on them.

4) There were pictures of family all over my board...oddly I didn't include my mom. I didn't realize it until I pulled my board out for review. There was also a picture of a stopwatch and the words "Time for what's important" As a family we spent ALOT of time together in 2011. We reprioritized our lives to take care of mom and spent time making lasting memories. This was something that had been missing. Through my mom's illness, we grew closer as a family.

5) There was a picture of some steps carpeted with money. I had no idea I was going to get married and move. The house I had built and called home for the last 9 years is now investment rental property. My financial house seems to be even more clear now. It's all about being debt free while maintaining a decent lifestyle. It's about having money to take care of our needs, some of our wants and having a decent savings account.


I was reading a quote I saw somewhere "A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement. "

See it was a vision, just a mere dream and a Japanese proverb says "Vision without action is a daydream. Action with without vision is a nightmare." Unknowningly, I plotted the course for 2011 with my "Vision Board". So 2012, I am going to sit down and do the same. I am going to think of what I want to accomplish.

One thing I can say is that other than those that attended the "Vision Board" party (8 folks total and none involved in my day-to-day life) no one knew about my vision board. Why? You can't share your dreams with everyone. Some folks are dream killers and sometimes a dream can only survive if you carefully nurture it alone, watering it and lovingly pruning the branches. Dream killers are those who tell you why it won't work and how you can't accomplish it, often because they have no drive to achieve dreams of their own.

What everyone needs, regardless of his/her job or the kind of work he/she is doing, is a vision of what his place is and may be. As for me, I need an objective and a purpose. I need a feeling and a belief that I have some worthwhile thing to do. What this is no one can tell me or you. It must be your own creation. Its success will be measured by the nature of your vision, what you have done to equip yourself, and how well you have performed along the line of its development. Don't allow anyone to be your measuring stick, for you and you alone know whether you have failed or succeeded.

This has been another Newy perspective.

Happy New Year!!!!

I have been so swamped that I have neglected my blog. :( I had a post I started in early December regarding my vision board I did last January. I will finish it and post it soon. In the meantime, how are you?

Let's see...catch up with Newy.

First Thanksgiving without my mom. It was difficult but we made new memories and talked about her.

Christmas just didn't feel like Christmas this year, but we started new traditions. This year we went to Chicago. It was AMAZING. I really enjoyed the magnificent mile and seeing family and friends.

I brought the New Year in praying and praising God. I was in church and can't think of anywhere I would rather be than there. Life is good. I thank God for a job I love, for family and friends that are supportive, fun-loving and free spirited.


Big Shouts to my friend Chantell Christopher who was Amber on House of Payne last Friday.


Happy New Year to you all! I will do better this year regarding blogging.