The Mask

  Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906)
              We Wear the Mask
    WE wear the mask that grins and lies,
    It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—
    This debt we pay to human guile;
    With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,
    And mouth with myriad subtleties.
    Why should the world be over-wise,
    In counting all our tears and sighs?
    Nay, let them only see us, while
            We wear the mask.
    We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
    To thee from tortured souls arise.
    We sing, but oh the clay is vile
    Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
    But let the world dream otherwise,
            We wear the mask!

Perry, Darla, and that oh-so-dapper Detective Paul Drake

I grew up watching and listening to my mom and grandmother watch the original Perry Mason.  You know the one in black and white.   When it came on late at night, if I heard the opening music that was my signal that it was late and I needed to find a way to go to sleep quickly. 

When I got a chance, I watched the show.  That Detective Paul Drake was debonair and just handsome.  I always wondered why Perry & Darla didn't get together.  They would have made such a cute couple. 

Today, I look forward to 10:30 nightly when me & the hubby settle in for the night and watch Perry Mason.  It comes on channel 47, MeTV.  We  are always sure to catch the opening minutes because that's when the foundation of each episode is shown.

Sadly, all three of these stars are gone.  Their presence and television shows of this caliber are sorely missed.  Bye for now.  I must leave so I can be ready for my 10:30 treat.

Natural hair goes temporarily insane (translation: gets pressed for the week)

Well this is final exam week and Miss Mookie was hoping that would translate into an easy week in athletics. So she got brave and requested to have her hair straightened this week. You know sweat and straight, natural hair is not an easy combination.

twist out before fluffing

 

 

Washed hair with deep conditioner prior to adding cap

Hair sectioned for detangling (super easy with the conditioner we used) before blow drying

So we went from a twist out for church Sunday, to washing and deep conditioning, to straightening with that old school pressing comb.  My mom did it.  She presses hair like nobody's business.  Do y'all remember holding your ear so it wouldn't get burned? Yep, that's what she does.  The end result was pretty, but I like to natural hair better. After this week, we'll go back to that.  For now, she's trying to wear it straight and even had me twist it before athletics so she could try to maintain.  My child even wore a scarf while working out.  But you know what? I'm not mad at her! LOL....You better go Mookie!

Pressed hair (still had smoke coming from it - just kidding LOL)

Roller wrap for the night.  She slept in a satin scarf and bonnet

Before wrapping and rolling at night.  The hair survived athletics.  I can't wait until we wash it and get it back kinky coily.  My favorite!

Natural Hair Probz

So, in case you're unfamiliar with my personal life I am the mother of 3 children.  I have 14 year old boy/girl twins and a 5 year old bouncing boy.  My girl twin is affectionately called Mookie and she has officially said goodbye to synthetic braids   and hello to her natural curly/coily hair.  It is a bit of work as we learn what works and doesn't work, but it is fun.  We spend lots and lots of time on youtube.  Well, Mookie spends more time than me.  Who has time for all those videos? She watches a gazillion of them and reels me in only when she has specifically decided on a style.

I am loving that she is secure enough to rock the natural styles and of course it helps that her friends love her hair.  Positive peer pressure - gotta love it!!  But we have a little problem.  We did a high bun yesterday and it was cute. So then we got adventurous and tried a flat twist last night. Well let's just say that after an hour or so workout this morning, we took the twist out down and our "vision" was not quite materialized.  It looked like a wild Samuel Jackson afro when he played Elijah Price a*k*a Mr. Glass in the movie Unbreakable.    Luckily, we had a band and some gel in the car to rock a puff.

The saga continues.....

Keep Calm and Change the Channel (or laugh)

Well it was special-requested for me to blog about TLC's The Best Funerals Ever.  Ooooh child, I laugh just thinking about the show.  Oh...y'all didn't think it was funny? I did! I thought it was ridiculous!! BWHAHAHAAA 

When that lady ate that rib and started shouting I instantly thought of some of my family get-togethers.  If you haven't hummed a little diddy or wanted to stomp your feet a little bit, well then you just haven't had real good food.  A mess - I know.  But think about your favorite dish made by a family member at a family reunion or your favorite restaurant and you know you get a little extra pep in your step!  If you don't.....well....I feel sorry for you.

Now I know the preacher was a mess. How he decide to end his little raggedy eulogy with the Baby Back Rib song? And when Mr. Beckwith got his light-skinned-ed self up in that sleigh with that casket going down the aisle and then sat his light-skinned-ed self in that pulpit in that Santa costume I was DONE!! I'm talking slit my wrist and everything done!! 

I know that some of you are appalled - how can I make light of this? Well - IT WAS FUNNY!  It was entertainment. Don't get mad at Golden Gate.  They gave their "eccentric" clients what they wanted.  It's not their fault.  Those people were happy.  Can we blame Golden Gate for carrying that urn around that state fair with that man's ashes? I blame his family, talking about "he never got to ride the rides."  HELLO!! He still didn't!! Y'all riding the rides and using his insurance money to do so!!

Look I have had two very, very, very dear loved ones to have their services done by Golden Gate. I attended every meeting with my mom as we planned my grandmother's home going service.   It was none of that buffoonery you saw on the show.  They were professional, compassionate, and very traditional. 

Was the show a mess? Yes - in a good way.  They showed the over-the-top things.  I'm sure some of that foolishness was scripted or heavily "encouraged" by producers so the show could get picked up. 

Listen, you better do your research.  The funeral business is big business and I can't knock the Beckwiths for expanding their brand so to speak.  I'm not mad at their hustle.  Trust me, er'time (yes-er'time) I drive by Golden Gate off of I-35 there are cars in that parking lot.  And don't go to a wake there on a Friday night.  Baby....you are going to have to park down the street and WALK.  Yep....they're doing something right.

Honey, don't hate the players, hate the game. 

Note: this blog was penned by none other than "Trina" and not Katrina.  Peace!

New Cover Girl?

When people meet my daughter they often exclaim how much alike we are.  People have said we have similar features and even mannerisms. Yes- the child also talks wildly with her hands and uses her fingers to accent points in her conversations.   However, I always love to tell people she's much smarter than me.

One thing I've always been proud of is that she is a planner.  She doesn't wait until the last minute to do things like her mom.

Until now.

Meet the new face of procrastination all comfy in my bed right before I'm ready to write today's blog and call it a night. 

Yep...here's my fashionista 14-year old baby girl clad in glasses, satin cap, and some odd assortment of night gear working on her English paper that is due tomorrow and she has had for quite some time now.  I hope she doesn't see this page.  She is going to KILL me for posting this.

Oh Lord....I pray the procrastination gene isn't waking from its dormant state in this child.  Maybe it's only a temporary lapse....a slight phase.  Procrastination already has one cover girl for this family - me. We don't need another one.  I want my baby to be the cover girl for time management.

Praying....

The cost to be the boss

I spent over $140 at the grocery store this evening. I am not bragging - trust me.  I will be looking for every penny from that grocery store bill in probably 3-4 days.   This grocery store bounty will not get my family of 5 beyond this weekend.  I know for a fact I will have to return to the grocery store by Friday.  Come to think of it, my husband will have to go today because I forgot to get toilet tissue.  Arggh!!!

The higher-than-usual bill is due to the fact that I stocked up on healthy, natural foods as part of our participation in our church's annual Daniel fast.  Almond butter, natural, organic brown rice cakes, hummus, fresh fruit, etc.  It was like an ad for preventive medicine I tell you.  But as I wearily added to my basket (I'm good with numbers when it comes to my money), I entertained the thought that it is sooooo much cheaper to buy "bad" foods.  Sigh.  Well, this journey is spiritual indeed, but also physical.  Spiritually, I will spend more time with God. Physically, my body will thank me for the change as I cleanse.

To be conscious of every morsel you consume takes strength, self-discipline, a support system, and prayer.  Yes indeed, it costs to be the boss.

Faithful expectations

This is the title of one of my most favorite sermons that I heard back in 2003.  Yep - a looooong time ago.  That's how you KNOW it was a good one.  The preacher was a guest preacher by the name of Rudolph McKissick. The scripture reference was Mark 10:46-52, the story of blind Bartimaeus.  As Pastor McKissick pointed out in the sermon, the more the people told him to be quiet, the louder he got to try to get the attention of Jesus.  I believe he said "they told him to shut up, he got louder, he got louder, Jesus got still, Jesus got still, because he got louder, and he got louder because they told him to shut up."  Now I can't tell it like he did, but it was good and true. 

I'm getting goosebumps here.  Never let anyone crush your faith, expectations, connection with God, etc.  In fact, they can't.  The oppression and challenges you feel will cause you to scream louder for God's attention. He is moved by our faith.

In 2013 I continue to have faithful expectations in all situations because no one can convince me that anything God has ever done for me  or mine (or even people I've never met) has been coincidences.  What are you hollering for this year?

Faithfully...........

This and that via east Texas

I started a girls' group at my school that I'm quite fond of.....They are the best!

The Real Girls had an officers' workshop today and it was quite productive. If nothing else, the girls had a chance to preview the spring calendar, do something nice for a fellow member, and become more comfortable with their leadership roles. Bless their little hearts.

One of the parents of the girls (a personal friend I must confess and also one of my closest members in my inner mom circle) opened her home to us to have our workshop.  Her home is lovely and so well put together.  Those real estate gurus know how to make it happen. :)  She had the little mandarin orange-infused water: .   Isn't that classy?  And look at this little cute Christmas tree draped in tulle in the powder restroom: .  Our hostesses had the most welcoming attitudes, and their home made us feel welcomed with just the right amount of "this and that" coupled with east Texas charm & Waxahachie hospitality.

East Texas....producer of that distinguishable Texas drawl, hot links, country red dirt and one of my closest confidants, Beth T.

When We Break

All 3 Lemon drops had dental check-ups today.  As the poor little hygienist was cleaning Wade's teeth she asked "has someone forgotten where their toothbrush is over the break?" Never missing a beat, I had no qualms about responding with "actually I think he's forgotten about the toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, bathtub, ALL OF IT!"  We laughed.  My child.  This boy thinks that Christmas break means break from all things sanitary.  And his 14 year old brother isn't too much better.  I guess I've been on break from staying on top of them making sure they do what needs to be done besides my regular house-cleaning demands. Oh well.....Bernie Mac already told y'all a long time ago: When we break, we break! #carryon

I'm Back!

Embarrassingly, it has been over  3 years since my last post. I think it's because I am so tied to FB. It became my outlook to my vents, raves, random thoughts, embarrassing moments, and sarcastic commentary to life in general.

As Mookie and I venture into this natural hair movement, I'll also  be using this a bit more to help moms and teens who are also navigating in this natural hair fun.  Enjoy! Much to Mookie's chagrin, I'll be posting pics periodically.

So if you'd like a sometimes humorous or dysfunctional look into my views of teens, children in general, public education, marriage, parenting, reality tv, crazy, random people I see and try to avoid, my embarassing moments (I have them a lot), or my social awkardness - hey, I've been in junior high for over 10 years, what'd you expect? then I think you'll enjoy this blog.

Until next time (and hopefully it won't be so many years).....