THIRTY

Bet you didn't think I would post today, did you?

LOL

Fooled. YOU.

It is still technically June 30th. Not quite midnight. So that means that I still have time to post... something.

30 posts in 30 days!

I am so PROUD of myself!

The Oldgirl did it!

And to celebrate, we're gonna turn it over to The Original Oldcat...

Oscar Tyrone...

Yeah, uh... he's gonna do a little pole dancing for your enjoyment.

Show the party people at the House of LadyLee whatcha working with, boy!

Shut the month of June down, Oscar!!!!

*Lee presses play on the tape player... Uncle Luke screeches over the bass*

Get up on that pole, Oscar-Tyrone! Don't be scared!!

Work it out, boy! Work it OUT!!!



Get it, get it, get it... get it, boy!!



Stop lickin' that pole, Kitty!!!







Kitty danced too hard! Now he's a sleepy kitty!







That's enough Oscar-Tyrone... enough dancing, boy. You've earned your kibbles and water...




























Ha ha HA!!!

That was too much fun! We'll have to let Oscar-Tyrone work that pole again in the future!!

Half a year has passed!!

Hope it was good for ya!

Hope the 2nd half of this year is even better for you:)

Good Monday Morning...

Good Morning Blog Fam...

It is yet another Monday morning. I wish I had the day off, but alas, I don't.

Actually I don't mind going to work this morning. It's not going to be as hot as it has been for the past week...

It's only going to reach a high of 90 degrees.

"That's still hot, Oldgirl," you say.

Yeah, I know. But that's better than 100 degrees, you know?

Anyway, I had a decent weekend.

I think we are all still shellshocked over Michael Jackson's death. I dealt with my pain by watching the myriad of video shows dedicated to him, and by doing several posts of my favorite memories.

I ran around the house singing his songs while doing my chores.

The kitties were NOT amused with my less-than-stellar sanging skills.

Oscar-Tyrone would just hide, go somewhere and disappear for hours.

Kramer William gave me the *gas face*. I was in his face much of the weekend singing "Billie Jean".

Yes, if lil' man could talk, he'd be saying "LadyLee, I'ma need you to kill that noise."

LOL

I feel better. But it is disheartening to see stars that I grew up watching and admiring starting to die. Let's me know that I am aging. I was a child when Elvis died, and even a grown woman when Frank Sinatra died... but I couldn't relate to them.

But for Michael Jackson to up and die? That's too much, man. As my sister said "Some folks you expect to live forever."

You got that right. No one's immortal, that's for sure.

I did my grocery shopping this weekend. Plenty of fruits and veggies. I should be straight for about two and a half weeks. I think I may have a post coming up on that.

I read what had to be the best book I've read since reading Martha Southgate's Third Girl from the Left some two year's ago.

Carleen Brice's Children of the Waters.

Oh, this book was divine. Exceptional. Superb. I have NO idea how to review it. None.

It simply took my breath away. An Oldgirl had to go drink plenty water, because I ran out of tears.

Yeah, it was that good. And it had a huge personal effect on me. Let's just say, it is something else to spend much time praying about some personal isshas, and then to read a book that absolutely confirms some things I am doing and some plans that I am making, well... it is a Godsend. Really.

Okay, I am starting to cry. Let me stop talking about this...

I took this book VERY personally. VERY.

Poor Carleen. I'm going to blow up her email this week with my thoughts. She's gonna end up yelling "Go away LadyLee!!!" and blocking my email, lol.

Carleen... you got down. Really.

Good job, Botanical Chick. You might get you OG status behind this one. Really though.

I had a Financial Freedom Fighters meeting on Sunday. I was feeling blah about it, and didn't really want to go. I feel as though I have been within arms reach of finishing off some financial stuff, then some silly stuff happens. It's a bit disheartening.

But I believe in the power of words. In the power of being in the midst of good people who are trying to better themselves. Something good always rubs off on me - an idea, a solution... something- that I can use. I don't look to understand everything, but if I can get one little "something" to apply in my life, well... that makes it worth it.

Well worth it. As usual, I came away from the meeting with some plans. I will work my plans.

And something will stick.

Alright... I didn't mean for this post to turn into a "Food-for-Thought" special moment, lol.

This morning was a good morning. For some reason, I've been waking up VERY early and very rested, without an alarm clock. So I got up and prayed for a bit. This is nice, since no one is up, and it is quiet and still cool. Then I sat down and spent a couple of hours working on a reading assignment and organizing and typing up some notes. So that was fun...

An Oldgirl has gotten more done before 9:00 a.m. than most people get done in a whole day!

And there is still more left to do...

And I'm gonna do it all... on purpose.

Well... I have almost completed my assignment: Posting for 30 days straight! I didn't think I could do it. Well, there is one day left, but I don't think I will mess that up. But this has been helpful, getting the creative juices going. I have been able to work on some of my own writing, and I am happy about that.

So, with that said. I'm taking the month of July off.

NOT!!

LOL! I saw you gasp!

Just teasing.

Won't be posting everyday, but will be posting often enough.

I have much to say, and I hope you'll stick around and read it ALL. LOL

So, even though it is Monday, the most dreaded day of the week, be sure to celebrate it.

For there are people who didn't live to see this day. This NEW day, a day never seen or experienced by anyone.

So enjoy today... and make it a good one.

On purpose.

Favorite Michael Jackson Song: "This Place Hotel"

I LOVE THIS SONG!

It is off the last Jackson's Album, Triumph. That's the last album Michael Jackson made with his brothers, before going solo and releasing Off the Wall.

This is my favorite MJ song!

And this video montage made an Oldgirl CRY!!



I liked the way they matched it all up to the song...I liked the way it ended.

That right there had an Oldgirl all weepy.

A fitting end to my MJ memorial weekend...

Really though.

Rest in peace, Michael Jackson. We celebrate you in death now the way we should've been celebrating you in life. That's the way it goes in this mean world...

The important thing is simply... that we celebrate you.

Memories... The Two MJ songs that made Me a FAN!

I still can't believe that these came out when I was around 10 years old.


"Rock with You"

Michael Jackson - New Music - More Music Videos

"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"

Michael Jackson - New Music - More Music Videos

And we thought these videos were HIGH technology! LOL... Music videos have come a long way, but these will always be timeless... Always.

Just like Michael Jackson.

Memories... My favorite Michael Jackson Live Performance

This, to me, was Michael Jackson's most memorable performance.



I was in high school, in the 10th grade when the Motown25 show came on.

I distinctly remember this perfomance being the gist of our conversations in the lunchroom for the ENTIRE week.

Sigh...

Michael Jackson was definitely the greatest performer of all time...

Memories... Favorite Michael Jackson Posters

The full color poster of this picture was not on my wall...



It was on my bedroom door... for 7 years.

When you walked upstairs, it was the very first thing that you saw. Must've drove my Mama nuts. I LOVED it.

I remember this being LadyTee's favorite poster.

I remember that because she talked ALL THE TIME about how she was going to get that very same yellow and white outfit that Michael Jackson had on.

Shoot, she already had the jheri curl just like his... now she wanted that outfit.

Yes, you were the bane of our teenage existence, Michael...

Memories

Best memory: 1984, sitting on the edge of my Mama's bed, with my sister Kentucky (who was only 3 at the time) watching the Thriller mini-movie. LadyTee and I were on the phone.

We watched in complete silence, not saying a word to each other until it was over.

This had to be the best choregraphed dance in a video ever:



I even kept count of how many times I saw the Thriller video...

Well, I stopped counting at #34.

Me and LadyTee learned every move, and would do the dance part together...

Sigh...

LadyTee, me and you gotta get together and do those steps once again...

Rest in Peace...

August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

Rest in Peace, Michael Jackson

LadyLee's Rules for the Cheating Politician

Here we go again...

Another politician caught cheating.

Hmmm...

You know the story. It's been the top story in the news.

This time, it's the good Govenor of South Carolina.

Same news conference, same groveling...

And I suppose I'm suppose to feel sorry for you.

"Woo, woo, woo!

"That's all you get for me.

Plus my rules for bypassing getting caught in the first place.

These rules are not only for the good Governor, but for other politicians who've had to stand at the same podium, in the past... and in the future.



LadyLee's Rules for the Cheating Politician

(In no particular order of importance)

1. When you step to the microphone to confess what you have done, don't bring your wife and family. We all know she cussed you out. She probably picked up the closest thing and tried to knock the ish out of you.We know she's not the supportive wife. You made her come out there with you. You're not fooling anyone.

2. Have a rendezvous with a chick who's at least 35 years or older. Young chicks tend to run their mouths.

3. You'll get more respect from the public if you just say "I got caught! My bad!", instead of invoking God and saying you have sinned. Go somewhere and straigthen that out between you and God and your fam in private. Even though you may be sincere, the real deal is you got caught and wouldn't be up groveling and crying if you didn't get CAUGHT.

4. Do not cry when you step to the microphone. I do not feel sorry for you because you got caught and just ruined your career. Man up, and stop being a punk.

5. Be sure to thank your wife for not getting on camera and saying what she really thinks of your cheating behind. Because let's face it: she knew what was going on long before us common folks knew. She could REALLY mess you up if she wanted to. She probably won't, because she's taking you to the cleaners in divorce court.

6. Don't have a baby with your mistress. If you do, pay her off real good so she won't rat you out.
7. Tell one of your homies what you are doing. And there are always a bunch of brownnosing staffers looking to get in good with you. Use them too to lie for you. Maybe they can run interference for you.

8. Be careful what you say about your mistress. You were whispering in her ear how much you love her in the late midnight hour. Don't act like she was just a ho to you, or a "dear friend". She might show up and rat you out. Be careful how you speak of her.

9. Do not use government property (cars, planes, credit cards) to do your dirt. I as a taxpayer don't appreciate paying for your twerking on the side.

10. Don't do the honorable thing and resign from your position. Do it only if you are forced by some judge's order. Let's face it, you're going to lose the next election anyway. Might as well stay in that position while you can.

11. If other politicians try to talk trash about what you did, throw out as many subtle hints as possible involving knowing that they too are a bunch of cheaters. (Or just be like me... be brash with it and say "Keep hatin' and I'm droppin' a dime on some of ya'll). That would shut everybody up real quick.

12. Technology has come a long way. This means no romantic emails, phone calls, tweets, or facebook. As you can see, that stuff can be pulled up. I don't like seeing your romantic correspondence splayed across my television screen. Do yourself a favor and buy some throw-a-way phones or learn some morse code.

13. You make enough money to fly your mistress to town and put her up in a nice hotel on the outskirts of town. This is much easier than flying to another country.

There are many more rules, I suppose. But that's the gist of it.

You know, I ain't gonna too much judge the man. We all do dirt. Thank goodness I am an everyday citizen and haven't had to worry about my dirty laundry being put out there for the world to see.

My thing is: Don't piss on my head and tell me it's raining.

If you got caught, man up, and say you got caught. Stop with all the excuses and trying to make us feel sorry for you.

You ruined your family and political career over a piece of a**.

(Excuse my language).

And that's your fault. Not mine.

Hopefully I won't have to see any more perfect politicians step to the mike and confess...

(And we know that's just a pipe dream, right?)

The Weirdness...

Sometimes, we get the most bizarre samples into the lab.

Rambutan!

Delicious and nutritious! That is, if you can get past the hairy and alien look of it, lol.

You have to peel off the furry coat. The flesh is like that of a grape. Suck on it, and throw away the seed.

(Too much work, man.)

I've gone vegetarian, but sometimes I might need a little protein!

Silkworm Pupa!!

Hey, does that count as meat?

Who in their right mind thought... "Hey, let's can silworms! We can make good money off of that."

Somebody thought about it and did it. And that's a fancy label. What language is that on the front of the can? That right there is enough to leave it alone.

My coworker said when she opened the can, it looked like a bunch of maggots.

LOL!!! You have GOT to be KIDDING me!!!!! I would've told my boss to go jump in a lake. Give that project to a dude, babes!!

Then the other day I got something weird. Not as weird as bugs, but some craziness nonetheless.
Celeriac!

I thought someone mispelled celery.

I like to process my work at my desk. I was sitting at my desk, piddling around with the paperwork, when my coworker Ol' Mean Ass Cynthia walked up. She inquired about the box. I told her what it was. She and I tore open the box and saw this:



"That don't look like no celery, man!" I yelled.

"It's a root," she replied. She picked it up.

"Girl, that looks like someone took a cow and chopped it's hooves off."

Needless to say, I don't find that... appetizing.

I don't imagine myself yelling "Hey, pick me us some of that good ol' celeriac when you go to the store, babes!"

Nope!

Although it might serve as a weapon. If you hurl it the right way, you could knock a sucka OUT.

Suppose to be good for ya! Smelled like cinnamon and cream. It's supposed to taste like a cross between celery and parsley.

*silence*

Yeah. I'ma let YOU try that out. Let me know how that goes!

Slice that up and pair it with some sauteed silkworms, and you got one heck of a meal!!!

Finally!!

I've been waiting for this day allllll year.

June 23rd.

For it would be the day that Carleen Brice's new book, Children of the Waters, would hit the bookstores.

Finally!!!!

Yes... yes... a glorious day indeed.

For I loved her first book Orange Mint and Honey. Even tacked a review up on the walls of the House of LadyLee. I am a fan for life after reading THAT book.

It was one of our book club books. (I missed that meeting. I am STILL hot behind that!)

It is being made into a Lifetime movie. GLORY! I'll be looking out for that!

She even sent me a personally autographed copy of Orange Mint and Honey. (I know she was like, "Would this chick PLEASE stop hassling me about when I'm coming to Georgia." LOL) It said "LadyLee I love your blog and hope you would autograph a book for me someday."

I had the HARD lip quiver and the fat tear drops behind that one. Showed that book to people, but they were NOT allowed to touch it, lol

Yes, yes. I've been excited all month.

I FINALLY get to read some NEW Carleen Brice!

Yes indeed!!

Now my plan was simple: go get the book this morning. Get up EARLY and get to the big bookstore I frequent in Midtown when it opens (9:00 a.m), and get the book. I could stick it in the pocket of my labcoat and read it alllll day!

So as not to waste my time, I called the bookstore yesterday.

"Hello, may I help you?"
"I have a question," I said.
"Yes?"
"There's a book coming out tomorrow, and I want to know if you put it on the shelves immediately, or does it take you a couple of days to get it on the shelf?"
"What's the name of the book?"
"Children of the Waters by Carleeen Brice," I said. I spelled her last name.

He took a LONG time to look it up. I tapped my fingers on my desk.

"Uh... no," he muttered. "We don't have copies available."
"WHAT?"
"No copies available."
"WHY?"
"Some copies will probably come in on the next shipment. But they have copies up at the Buckhead store".
"I am NOT driving up to Buckhead."
"Well that's where they are."
"How do you NOT have copies of this book? I don't believe this!!!"
"Well..."

A slight argument erupted. I ended up hanging up on him. Started calling around. Looked like I would have to drive to the closest place, Buckhead, and get the book. But driving to Buckhead in morning traffic is a beast, and they didn't open until ten o'clock. Too late. I decided to leave work in the middle of the afternoon and go get the book.

But I called another bookstore over by the White people's Kroger. They open early, but I don't like the book store.

"Hello?"
"I'm looking for a book." I gave her the information.
"Yeah, we have it," she said immediately. "I just put it on the shelf."
"REALLY?"
"Yes."
"And I can buy it tonight. Before the book comes out."
"Yes."
"And it counts on the book scan?"
"Sure does."
I looked at the clock. It was five after seven. "What time do you close?"
"Ten."
"Alright. Thank you. BYE."

I hung up the phone. Got REAL excited. Started gathering all my stuff..

Another chemist was rumbling around, trying to finish up some work. She had come back to her cubicle, and was now heading back to the lab.

I yelled out to her, "S, what time you leaving?"
"Oh, in ten more minutes, got some cleaning up to do, and trying to finish this stuff."
"Well, I'm leaving. You work that out. I'll holla! BYE!"

The rule is, if you're working late, you can't work late alone. You have to have someone else there, just in case you tare up stuff or blow something up.

That chick was on her own. I was OUTTA there.

I bought my book. I was real happy!!!

Now, on Saturday night, I believe, Carleen Brice was on a national blog talk radio show. I like listening to these, whether over the computer or on my cell phone. I was listening on my cell phone, and there's an option to speak. But I am too chicken to be "Caller #1", so I just listened.

But I decided to say something that night.

So, they put me on. And I basically said how I told her that I was LadyLee and was excited that the new book was coming out.

She actually remembered who I was. (I read her blog).

Well, she said something that shocked me. "There's a surprise for you in the book."

I don't remember what my response was. I was shocked that, not only had she said that, but she even remembered who I was.

Now, after I hung up, I thought, well, I know there's a chick in the book who has my chronic illness. I was happy for that, because it would be nice to read some fiction where that may be a factor.

I thought, well, that's what she's talking about. That ain't no surprise. They're talking about that on the show.

Cowgirl Cre and I had this brief discussion about it all yesterday.

"Carleen Brice's new book is coming out tommorow!"
"It is?"
"Yes, and she said that there's a suprise for me in the book."
"Really?"
"I think I'm going to be in it. I'm going to be the chick at the cash register. You know , when the main characters go in the store, to buy something, I take there money and-"

Interesting. We laughed hard about this. If there was some random chick named Shaquita in the book, and she was standing at the cash register... well, that was me!

LOL

So now, I have my own copy of the book in my hands. OH JOY!!

Now before I read the book, I like to look at dedications, acknowledgments, interviews, sometimes even the book club questions. Didn't want to look at the book club questions for this book because I wanted to read it without clues as to what will be going down. I wanted a surprise factor.

I turned on the television, sat down on the sofa.

Yelled at Oscar-Tyrone to get away from me. (He was rubbing up against my leg, wanting to be rubbed I suppose).

I look at the acknowledgments, which were in the back, and see this:



Shocked the HELL out of me.

I blinked hard. Oscar got the STEW kicked out of him with my left foot. I banged my big toe of my right foot on the coffee table. Yelled and screamed out of pure happiness AND pain. LOL

I called my sister, who was upstairs in her room.

"Kentucky! Kentucky! Get down here right now!"

She came out of her room, looking totally confused. "What's wrong, Lisa?"

Before I knew it, I was halfway up the stairs. "Look at this!" I punched the book page hard with my hand. "LOOK!!!!"

She saw my name. "That's real nice, Lisa."

*LadyLee cheesing hard like Buckwheat*

Oh goodness. Carleen put me in the acknowledgments. Not only that, but I am holding up the comma that comes behind the great Tayari Jones. (And you all know how I worship the ground that Tayari spits on.)

OH. JOY.

So I have my book. I've started reading it. It is very good! Carleen, you're ROCKING the descriptions and visuals. I pulled out my highlighter on some of that! GO GIRL...

And thanks for the acknowledgment.

I'd been having a bad day... feeling like Lurch.



But now I feel Smurfy again.

You made this Oldgirls day:)

Congrats on the new book. I know it's going to be just as good as the last one!!!

Happy HOT Monday Morning:)

Good Monday Merning!

Well, not so good. I woke up at 4:40 a.m. this morning... and couldn't go back to sleep. Went to sleep 2 hours earlier than normal, but dang: 4:40 am? Ugh. Not sure what that's about.

I'll get over it.

I had a great weekend, filled with Happy smiling people.

Happy Smiling Sweaty People.

That's because the temperature in my beloved ATL reached 100 degrees this weekend.

Yes we were ALL Happy smiling sweating people!

The current temperature is 77 degrees. We expect a high of 94 degrees.

Uggggghhhhh. HAWT!!!!

I don't like heat.

Yes we are tropical people... but an Oldgirl is assimilated to cooler weather!

My Weekend. I had a great weekend. And I am trying to figure out how not to be longwinded. So we will make it spare, and expand on some parts later? Yeah that's the ticket.

Saturday. Took another field trip out to the Morningside Farmers Market! It was crowded as all get out. I think they had a tour or something roll through there. I had to stand in some looooong lines for my veggies... I'll talk about that tomorrow.

I attended a book club meeting. We discussed J. California Cooper's Life is Short but Wide.

I almost got tossed out the window for giving it a low rating. True enough, she is STILL one of my favorite writers, but I didn't care for the book. You should've seen the looks I got for that one. Overall, everyone really enjoyed it...

After the book club meeting, we celebrated The Green-Eyed Bandit's birthday at a nearby Applebees. I baked PLENTY of chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin walnut cookies for book club, the Bandit, and her son, who celebrated his 13th birthday last Thursday.

I made birthday cards for them both.

Ced is a teenager. He's going to be frowing HARD at his card. I still think of him as a little boy, even though he has a voice full of bass (which irritates the heck out of me. I liked the high squeaky voice!)

Like I said, we went out to eat. I was concerned about finding something vegetarian to eat. (Bandit had to hear me whine "Call them people at Applebees and ask if they got some tofu!)

I tell you, I did well. I had to be STRONG and have a vegetarian meal. It didn't help that there was some spinach artichoke dip and chips sitting on the table near me.

Not to mention the leftover cookies I baked for the book club meeting.



Looks good, ya'll. REAL good. But I didn't take the bait. Not the Oldgirl!

It wasn't on the menu, and I had to ask for something. I had a black bean burger and a salad. (Had to send the salad back because it was loaded with bacon and cheese. They hooked it up the right way after that). That was a GOOD burger. I even went and found some black bean burgers in the store. So I have found something else to diversify my menu!

Of course, my book club sista Star, who I will call the "T-shirt Lady", lol, had on one of her signature shirts.


It read "I make reading sexy".



That chicks goal in life is to shock me. But this shirt was pretty tame.

She even coaxed Green Eyed Bandit into wearing one...



Star even sold shirts out of the back of her SUV.





Star, you are worse than the man that sell the bootleg CDs and DVDs!!!

LOL!

Now...

Sunday.The highlight of my weekend was meeting the one and only Original Oldboy himself...

The Brown Blogger Hassan!!!!



I had dinner with him and his wife, Diva in Demand. We met up at the Whole Foods in Midtown, where they have a gargantuan hot bar, and spent the better part of the afternoon, some 3 hours, kicked back and talking. (Man, that time went by FAST!)

I am so excited that I got a chance to meet him. He is the sole platinum card carryin' Original Oldboy. His words have influenced this Oldgirl much!!

Good to hang out with you and and the Mrs., dude!! We gotta hook up again!!

I came home, with a little itis (I don't get it... Hassan explained it as being the coconut oil in the red beans and rice), and rested for awhile.

Then I skipped down the street to take pictures of my group Superhero, The Infamous Hen-Dog.

Hmmm.... Interesting.

I have been asking this boy to take pictures for my blog for years... Of course Tiny will do the eye candy pics...



Always eager...

But never Hen Dog. Always some excuse. "I have to shave, blah, blah, BLAH!" Whatever man. We as females like the eye candy shots.

So I'd been hollering for the past week about how I'm posting his pictures. He said no, only at the end so that I can show his progress. I reluctantly said yes.

So, I skipped on down the street (He lives 3 houses down), and took pictures.

It was not what I expected. I quickly learned all that bodybuilding lingo, and we had to take several pics over and over until we could see the muscles just right. It was a bit scary, as he has the "cobra back", and the big traps...

Dude has come a LONG way from this.

I took that picture back in 2005 on his front porch. Yep, he's come a long way.

He is twice as big. His girlfriend sat there, painstakingly took notes. (She had to hear me say "Did you write that down?" LOL)

Oh, it was all so anticlimatic, lol!!! I think I even got to a point where I understood all the the bodybuilding lingo.

I wanted to tell her "Make dude jump up on the kitchen table and drop it like it's hot!!

Ya could've at least done that ol' Stanky leg dance, Hen!

I took about 30 pics, and will spend a little time this week trimming and blowing them up, and I will give him a nice CD.

I am glad to help him. He's been planning to compete and looks like he will reach that goal.

Hope you win, Hen-Dog!!

I'll be at that competition! And I'll be waving one of our lab coats and some chemical glassware in the air, cheering hard for ya!! LOL

Anyway, I had a very exciting weekend. Exciting indeed.

So... I have, what, 8 days left on the 30 day posting quest?

I can't wait for it to end. Ya'll might not see me again until August!

Just playing. But it has fun! Well, except for all that Food-for-Thought.

Smurfiness is the order of the day!! Well, I guess I can attempt to do serious things. I am not only talking to you, but talking to myself about things I am trying to correct in my own life.

But Smurfy is where it is at.

Quote of the Month. So, I'd like to leave you with what has to be the Quote of the Month. Yeah, I know it's not the end of the month yet, but this quote takes the cake:

It is from That Original Oldgirl The LBeezy, from the post "big chop drama" :

"Building up self-esteem is like establishing good credit...it takes time."

Yeah... that's a good one. Everything is a process. Not instant.

That's not a quote. That's a revelation.

Really though.

Good one, Beezy. That one is tacked up on the wall of my cubicle. Good one.

With that said...

Ya'll have a GOOD week. Period.

No ifs, no ands, no buts. Make it a good week... on purpose.

Sunday Scripture III

A good friend of mine asked for a scripture concerning worry.

I know one well... I speak it to myself when I get to worrying too much!

"Be careful about nothing"

I knew it was off in the new testament, in the book of Phillipians. So I went and looked it up for her and emailed it to her.

As a matter of fact, that is exactly what the King James version says:

KJV

Phillipians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

That verse is interesting... it means don't worry about stuff, but just pray about it.

I sent this to my friend.

Now... let me go back to January.

Back in January, we had a church fast. As a part of that, we were asked to spend an hour praying every day.

Interesting. I was a tad bit concerned by that, because you know, just being honest here... I have other things to do. An hour is A LOT of time.

But I challenged myself. I could get up an hour earlier every morning and pray.

Something really wierd happened behind that. Very odd.

I had a lot of peace during that time.

And it wasn't a normal level of peace. It was something that I couldn't understand, couldn't explain.

I think I talked to my coworker about it... She was doing something similar.

I asked, "Is it just me, or is it a different type of peace going on."

It was hard to explain to her. Shoot man, I couldn't even explain it to myself.

She basically agreed with me... Made me feel a little better.

Made me think "Uh, yeah... I need to keep my prayer life consistent!"

My mind was VERY quiet during that time. Wasn't worried about a doggone thing. If issues came up, I kind of just shrugged.

"It'll work itself out."
"How?" someone would ask.
"I don't know. Just know it will be okay."

Hmm...

NOW... going back to that scripture. When I was looking up the verse to send to my friend, I decided to read that very next verse that followed behind it.

And I saw something that peaked my interest, raised my eyebrows...

King James Version

Phillipans 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Now, I'm not big on the King James version. I don't talk like that. I try to read the versions that kick me in my teeth a bit. That way, I can remember it better.

And I chew on a verse like it's chewing gum...
Chew it until my teeth and jaw muscles ache.
Squeeze as much of the flavor out of thas possible, lol.

So, I looked up these verses in other versions of the bible. Heck Biblegateway.com has a gazillion versions.

Take a look at what I found:

Message Version:

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

CEV

Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

Darby Translation:

Be careful about nothing; but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses every understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts by Christ Jesus.

Worldwide English (New Testament)

Do not worry about anything. Talk to God about everything. Thank him for what you have. Ask him for what you need. Then God will give you peace, a peace which is too wonderful to understand. That peace will keep your hearts and minds safe as you trust in Christ Jesus.

Living translation

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

NIRV

Don't worry about anything. Instead, tell God about everything. Ask and pray. Give thanks to him. Then God's peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God's peace can never be completely understood.

All of that was very interesting.

It lit this Oldgirl's hair on fire.

And it explained A LOT of what I couldn't explain.

First of all this is a good "what, why, and how" scripture. In other words, it answers a LOT of question.

1. What's wrong? You are worried about some stuff. Something's got you all discombobulated.

2. What do you do about it? You pray about it.

3. How do you pray about it? Take it to God. Tell him what you need

4. What else should you do? Don't forget to give thanks! Give thanks for all that he has seen you through in the past... (We ALL have the long laundry lists of past accomplishments and triumphs and miracles. You know you got some). And give thanks for Him working on this current stuff you praying about.

5. What is the result of this? Peace of mind.

6. What is the reason for all this? For worry to be displaced out of your mind.

Well looking at each translation, I can deduce some very interesting things about this so called "peace".

It is a higher order of peace. It is a peace on some other level, not attainable within one's onself.

A peace that surpasses all understanding.
A peace equal to God's wholeness settling on you.
A peace that no one can completely understand.
A peace which is considered a blessing.
A peace that is too wonderful to understand.

Interesting. Shoot... I can use that type of peace all the time, you hear me?

But the part that really lit my hair on fire is the answering of the following questions.

What is the reason for the peace? What is the purpose of this higher order of "peace"? This God type of "peace".

Displaces worry.
Guards your heart and thoughts.
Keeps your heart and mind safe.
Watches over your heart and mind.
Controls the way you think and feel.

Very interesing... A peace that would control the way I think and feel.

This helps me to understand very critical.

There is always something controlling the way I think and feel. This in turn determines my approach to handling my situations.

We see everyday that people choose the wrong way to handle problems. Cuss folk out. Shooting peeps. Killing folks. Tearing up stuff. All kinds of odd behavior.

Would a peace that controls the way one thinks and feels cause a different behavior?

I submit that it will...

For I don't know about you, but as for me, a lot goes on in my mind before I decide to handle something in a radical way. I have rehearsed it in my head. I have meditated on the thing. Have become more upset by the minute.

I remember all that praying back in January. I remember coming to a point of praying about some of my own personal isshas...

And the peace and calmness that came from that.

I remember thinking... It's like something or someone came along and took a towel and pressed and scraped the untouchable gunk off the walls of my mind, cleaned it up and replaced it with new paint.

That is the best way I can explain it, and that explanation doesn't quite cut it.

It was really disturbing because I didn't know how to explain it. Just was glad for it, you know what I mean?

This thing was peace. A peace that can't be explained or understood.

And it really controlled the way I thought and felt. Really.

A good verse indeed.

One I've written down on a notecard for sure. One that, as you can see, lol, I've really explored.

And I hope it helps you today.

I really do.

This has been Sunday Scripture with your friendly neighborhood Oldgirl LadyLee

Happy Fathers Day to all the Fathers... and to all the Mothers who have had to be both Mother and Father.

And to My Heavenly Father who manufactures the air I breathe.

As always, I leave you with a song... One of my favorites by Canton Jones.

He goes to my church. I sat behind him once... I shook his hand and was cheesing down when he turned around, almost yelling...

"Canton, I really like your CD! I love it!!"

I was cheesing hard like Celie. I could hardly concentrate from the moment I walked in, thinking "Is that Canton Jones sitting in front of me?????"

He said "Thank you, glad you like it."

That first CD of his had to be the best hip hop/R&B soul gospel album I've ever heard.

Here's one I like, and found funny.



Have a great Sunday... on purpose.

Happy Birthday Green-Eyed Bandit!!!!

I would be remiss if I didn't wish The LadyLee blog's biggest fan a very happy birthday!

Happy Birthday to the Delta Hound, aka, Green-Eyed Bandit (pictured here with her lil' bro)!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREEN-EYED BANDIT!!

It's this chick's MISSION in life to keep the House of LadyLee going. She thinks more about my blog than I do. Let's just say, if I miss a few days posting, this chick will email the HELL out of me... If I'm still not posting, she will call and simply say...

"Where my post at, Man?"

*LadyLee kicks the hard eye roll*

And she tends to send me post ideas. I've been wanting her to do some guest posts, but she refuses. Wants ME to do all the work. (Ya busta).

And as celebration of her birthday this month, I'm posting every day for the month of June.

(Just so she won't HASSLE me.)

(And I'm NEVER doing this again because it is driving me NUTS!)

But it is nice to get a call saying how much she liked a post. That's better than the interrogation concerning not posting, lol.

I met Green-Eyed Bandit some 4 years ago. She is my book club sista. Chick didn't have much to say to me way back then, and I found out recently that she thought I was a bit to quiet, and wondered why I was even around. (You a busta, Bandit).

But we were a part of the journal writing group some 3 years ago. Of course, I don't have much to say, just listen. (Another book club sista, Cyncere Sista, dubbed me the "Quiet Scientist with a good heart", lol). When I do have something to say (which is a suprise to all), it always starts out "I don't talk much, but I have something to say..."

And Green-Eyed Bandit told me once after one of the meetings

"I always learn something for you."

I thought this was good. Maybe she'll stop looking at me with the hard side-eye. LOL!!

Since then, we've become good friends. She's a real cool chick!

She talked me into going on my very first vacation. (I know if you ask her, she'll tell you how much I whined and fussed).

She was my roommate on the cruise I took for my birthday in February.

This was her family cruise. Some of us book club sistas tagged along.

There was much wailing before the cruise.

"Look here, your family is a bunch of high yella folk. I don't know how I'll blend in."

LOL.

Her response "I got dark-skinned folks in my family, Lee."

"Look Ma... your family is CRAZY. Do NOT get me over in Mexico somewhere caught up in some mess with them. I am not trying to be locked up fooling with ya'll."

I don't know... I think of her family as a bit hardcore, you know, the type of crew who would break legs off of tables and whoop ass now, and ask questions later.

Scary folk indeed.

But they were nice. It was great cruising with them.

I liked the Sister bandits, the Auntie Bandit, and all the cousin bandits...

Everybody was smoking. I wanted so much to say "Yo, can I have a cigarette too?"

Mama Bandit was a real cool chick. She kept us all in check.

Brutha-in-Law Bandit was a straight up fool. You were right about him. Dude is comical!

Nephew and Niece Bandit were some great kids...


Niece Bandit slept in our cabin in one of the pullout bunks. She would knock on the door every night to come in, after the teen club closed.

Green Eyed Bandit, I don't appreciate you not waking up that last night on the ship to let your neice in the room. I had to get up and let her in. I'ma get you back for that one. Watch your back, child.

Stomping around Mexico was fun... Especially when we were drinking and eating nachos in that bar in Progreso, Yucatan.

That bleary eyed guitar player was a bit scary.

I know he had to think we were a bunch of Lushs.

Incidently, Green-Eyed Bandit... I blame you for all that drinking I did. You had me drinking Dragon Blood frozen drinks, tequila, daquiris, margaritas.

You and the crew (Ray-Ray and Kita)--- YA'LL SOME LUSHES!!!

I'm not sure I can hang with ya'll anymore! You lushes.

I had fun though!!! We gotta do that again.

But Green-Eyed Bandit, we've become fast friends over the past few years. I know I can count on you. You are the leader of my finance crew, and you always encourage me to do better. I sincerely appreciate that.

Make it a great birthday! And many more!

Now, you know I have to give the House of LadyLee's #1 fan a virtual barbeque.

So I went out back and fired up the grill!!

We got PLENTY of swine! Ribs galore!!

Plenty of chicken wings! Enough for you ALL !

And you KNOW there's always someone hollerin' about they don't eat pork. GEEZ!!

I see you sneaking the ribs on the sly! But we got that grilled up shrimp and crab for you anyways!

Grilled chipotle shrimp... can never go wrong with those!

Smoked basil shrimps are the bomb!

Crabs on the grill are no joke!

And the Green-Eyed Bandit is a BIG fan of my chocolate chip cookies. I am required to bring a few dozen to every meeting. And she requested a few for her birthday. (Those are baking in the oven right now, gal!)

But we do have some now for the party!








So, that was a good party wasn't it?

Okay... everybody has finished getting their eat on. Now all ya'll got the itis. DO NOT lay down. Take your tails home.

Ya'll need to get up out the House of LadyLee. You don't have to go home, but you need to raise up outta here!! LOL

Happy Birthday Bandit.

To have you as a friend makes me very rich... Very rich indeed. You make me a better person. I am fortunate to know you.

Have a Happy Birthday!!

I will see you later at the book club meeting, and at this shindig we're having at the Applebee's.

(And I have your chocolate chip cookies! OH JOY!)