Another Locked Brother?

Another brother locked brother working in my area and he is originally from New Orleans! Now, living here in Dallas, James Milton IV started his own lucrative business in a building where shoes need to be shined on a daily basis. Something I've missed since leaving Chicago, where there was a shoe shine man on every corner in the Loop.

I know some people probably think I am "certified crazy" when I ask if I can feature them on my blog. I just get caught up in the moment and thank goodness I have not run into anyone that shy away from me. I'd be so embarassed...ummmm, no I wouldn't.

When I first saw James his locks were past his shoulder and he recently cut them because he does not really like long hair. Here's a close up!







The pic below shows him working with a client. If you ever decide you need a nice shine or shoe repairs check him out, he's located in the Chase Bank Bldg, 1717 Main Street #C-130. 214.744.2444.

He's already saved Beignet money buy repairing a couple of pair of my nice shoes that did not have to be replaced. LOL!

My "Jade" Hair Tie

I've been waiting for the picture perfect moment to showcase my Brunsli "Jade" hairtie since receiving it three weeks ago! My pineapple was the perfect hairstyle to showcase it.

This is the best picture of the bunch and I can't tell you how much the picture displays "no justice" to the beauty of the piece itself. I eye balled for a while before I finally had to break down and spend the $$$$ to get it. Without regret!!!

Brunsli you really out did yourself this time galfriend! I get so many compliments while wearing it and I haven't taken it off in four days!

Take a closer look at it below, much better pic up close!

Are You Ready for Some Football?

Football season is here and our son "Roux" (pronounced "roo or ru" and named for his constant hunger for my mean dish of gumbo) desires to play football soooooo bad. He has this thing in his head that he wants to be like his father. My hubby whom I call Beignet (pronounced ben-yea and is a French delicious doughnut, from our native Louisiana, we have one everytime we return to New Orleans) retired from the NFL in the early 90's.

Roux was not even thought of then, he has only seen pictures and heard all about the good "ole" glory days we experienced before deciding to have children. But the testimonies Beignet has given over the years during youth conferences explaining why he retired after five years has not seemed to convince our dear son that football is not for him.

While the NFL has slamming advantages it can also have a dark side if one does not make good decisions. Why deal with the temptation, we just believe God has something more for our son to do in life. Let me get off my soapbox, for now, we'll just support him and hope he makes the right choices. Roux is doing pretty well, making the grades and getting good playing time. He's the first little guy in the red and white uniform to the left ready for a tackle.

Can you imagine how many people actually make it to the NFL?? A very small number, so we've told him to he has to have a back up plan........Brunsli, he want's to also be an attorney!

We've pushed the academics so tough I don't know how the poor guy even continues to hang in there with football. This will most likely be his last year anyway because once he hits high school our belief in God's Sabbath will cause a conflict with football games on Friday nights.

All I have to say is if Roux turns out to be half the fine specimen of a spiritual and educated man his father is......he'll be alright!

This is one of my favorite pics of Beignet taken during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Whew....good night ya'll, got to go, touchdown!!

I Called 911 Today

Looks are very deceiving! When you first view this photo it appears that the lady is helping a man in his wheel chair, right? WRONG!

Let me explain. After having lunch with a couple of co-workers, we were walking back to the office when we ran into these two people. The deranged white lady in the green shirt was cussing and beating the Hispanic man in the head with her fist. She then took his wheel chair and ran him into a building then off the side walk and into oncoming traffic. One of his legs was in a cast and the other had blood all over it. She was literally trying to harm him.

Finally, the rubber from the wheel came off his wheel chair and she was trying to put it back on so she could continue on her stir crazy journey. People walked past them as if nothing was happening and we just could not leave him alone with her.

I immediately whipped out my cell phone and called 911. I was hysterical on the phone with the operator and every time the lady punched the man in the face I would yell and scream to the operator to hurry up and send someone. Finally, she calmed "me" down enough so I could give her the location and description of the two.

We had no idea if these two people knew each other or not, it appeared to us that she just started picking on him. Obviously, she was mentally ill and the man did not deserve the abuse he was receiving. He kept saying, someone help me, she's trying to kill me!!!

Five minutes later the police and ambulance arrived, I and two others gave witness to the incident and she continued to talk real crazy and get aggressive the officers. They handcuffed her and sat her on the ground. After answering the officer’s questions I added "you all need to lock her up before she kills someone!" Then, she and her demonic strength got up off the ground while three officers were holding her and she came up to me and spat in my face. All, I heard was the crowd go....... UGH!!!! Now, this is the one thing I have often said I would never allow anyone to get away with. Never say never!

I was so mad at myself............... because I did not move fast enough to get out of the way of her flying DNA...it just happened too fast! I know there is a God because it took God and ALL the heavenly angels to restrain my will to punch this lady smack in the face. Then the Holy Spirit spoke to me and I realized it was not worth causing additional drama to the scene by having the both of us handcuffed and given a free ride down to the county jail in the same car. I must admit her eyes were void and I am a scary cat when it comes to mental illness so the further away I was from her the better.

The officers covered her face with a mask and handed me towels to wipe off with. By this time there were now 7 officers at the scene. Needless to say, after completing the police statement for the Hispanic mans court case I went right over to CVS and bought alcohol, cotton swabs, toothpaste and a toothbrush. I must have swabbed my entire face, my face powder was no more and I didn't want to even drink water with my own lips. Oh Lord help me!!!

My day was over and I could not wait to get home to my shower. I felt like I had been in a fight with the devil himself.

After reflecting on the painful journey, I'd do it all over again knowing I did not have to hear/see on the 6:00 news that the same deranged lady had killed a man in a wheel chair.

I carry my camera daily for hair features on my blog and I could not resist using it for this situation. I hate I did not get a better photo but I was a nervous reck while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. Those five minutes seemed like an eternity and I'll be taking my lunch to work for the remainer of this week and maybe next week too.

What would you have done?

September 11th

While visiting New York this past summer I had the opportunity of visiting "Ground Zero."

The very pit of my soul was ripped with emotion as I meditated on the memory of what shocked the nation five years ago this very day. My spirit spoke through the goosebumps raised on every inch of my skin.

Many lives were lost on the ground in which I stood in this photo. I know that the memory will remain because for me it was one day that the color of our skin made no difference. Humans helped other humans without judging, from the words of Public Enemy "911 is a joke".........911 was not joke that day! 

Brunsli Pony Tail Holders

We love the cute afro centric hair ties by Brunsli. Baby girl wore them to school this week and she loves how the pony tail holders "don't" make her look like a "baby." In her own words...

I've tried to get her to start a blog of her own but she says "she has too much on her plate with school, church, basketball and playing with her friends." So, we'll continue to include her journey along with mine.

We love the ties! Oh, and my favorite "jade" hair tie came in, I'll have to find the right style before I post on that one... more to come.

There's No Place Like Home...

I went home to Louisiana for the Labor day weekend and my sister and I took this picture in her back yard. She and her hubby have over three acres of land and can you guess was is growing behind us???

Louisiana is a major producer of rice and soybean, yep you guessed it, it's soybeans. Seeing rice and soybean fields always reminds me of my wonderful childhood growing up in the country of the Bayou State. Good people and good food! If it were not for the mosquito's I'd move back home. That's one thing I do like about Texas, no mosquitos!

My sister is in the process of letting her perm grow off so she can get Sisterlocks. I'm too excited and she can't wait. She has always wanted a low maintenance do and while I'd like think it was me who made her decide to go for it, I must admit that I'm sure it was my daughter.

Now, she and my niece will be Sisterlocked soon! She's wearing the braids until her hair is long enough to get good locks started without the perm on the ends. Who know maybe by December she'll be ready.

I could not resist having the shirt made to get my cousins off my back during my visit! My cousins always have something funny to say about relating me to Whoopi.....sometimes I fight dirty! LOL! The Shirt reads "Don't Live a Lye"

A co-worker with Locks

I was shocked to see anyone in our office with locks as I thought I was the only locked person in the entire building.

Last week, I met Joseph while in the elevator of our building. He is originally from St. Croix but grew up in Boston, Mass and was in Dallas working on a project.

Naturally, because we both had locks and since my hubby and I have vacation in St. Croix and lived in Boston we immediately had much to talk about.

Joseph shared with me that when he interviewed for the position with our company he informed them that if his locks would be a problem they could stop the process and not waste anymore time. Well, not in those exact words, but close enough.

Fortunately, they saw beyond the locks and knew he was the man for the job along with his extensive educational background. He's been with the company for three years now and moving up the ranks. Another testimonial for the locked community!

BTW, since I travel with my camera in purse at all times, he allowed me to feature him on my blog. Thanks Joseph and keep hope alive!