I was working from home with a sick little girl when I heard the news. An epic tornado tore through Moore, Oklahoma, just before 4 p.m. local time yesterday. As I type this, it is 10:49 p.m. eastern time and I’m watching the news, hearing that right now, the horrendous number of those killed is up to 51. Many of those are children found drowned in a local elementary school, in the safest part of the school they could be in during a storm, the basement.

My heart just breaks. It conjures up the imagery of Joplin, Missouri, almost two years later to the day. It brings back images of Katrina, just eight years ago. Hurricane Sandy and its destruction just 7 months ago.

I have posted about terror attacks, about my 9/11 experience and how so many I know were nearby to the recent Boston Marathon bombings. We tend to sweep natural disasters under the rug. Why didn’t people leave? Why do they live there? We somehow blame the victims of a natural disaster, and while some personal blame definitely lies with the not-so-intelligent person who goes surfing during a hurricane or stands on a balcony taking video instead of seeking shelter, very often Mother Nature reminds us that even when we do prepare, she will pack a 1-2 punch we cannot stop.

And last night, as I headed to sleep under my intact roof, in my comfortable bed, I sent out all of my love and thoughts to the people of Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and all the states suffering from such severe storms this year. And to all those who have been an unfortunate recipient of Mother Nature’s wrath in the past. Tonight, I light a candle for all of you and your families. It feels meaningless, and I have donated goods and money to my best ability, but my love and thoughts are all I can give right now.

*** If you want to help the relief efforts in the midwest, donate to the Red Cross simply by texting REDCROSS to 90999 today to make a $10 donation right from your phone.

So (because it worked last year) before dividing the class geographically (i.e. straight down the middle – one arguing that the example is indeed a State Crime, and the other that it isn’t) I asked whether they would rather discuss (a) Hurricane Katrina or (b) the 2011 Margaret River Bushfires.

“OK guys put your hand up. Who wants to discuss Katrina?”

No one.

“Who wants to discuss the Margaret River fires?”

No one.

“Who really doesn’t care less and wants to leave?”

Half the class put up their hands.

“Good. Katrina it is”

Students are marked on whether they attend, and not on participation. So we actually have students who turn up and then refuse to open their books (if they even have them) and then don’t participate. I had a student last week (one who actually does complete the readings) ask why she is being disadvantaged because part of the class is spelling out what the others have missed by not reading. I agree.

ANNIKA:  Annika is Elsie’s little sister (Lily’s honorary sister).  She is 9 years old!  I would have to describe her as…zingy!  She is quite eloquent for her age, and even though she does talk a lot, it’s almost always entertaining!  Right now she is in her 8th musical, with the role of Thomas O’Malley in an adapted version of Disney’s The Aristocats.  She’s almost never shy, so she can talk to strangers for hours.  She’s also quite the goof…  She’s an incrediblytalented artist, so if she’s not playing computer games or being crazy with her friends, she’s sketching in her drawing notebook.  She has  a cheerful glow that makes you want to be around her for hours!

KATRINA: Katrina is Elsie’s big sister (Lily’s honorary sister).  She is 14 years old, 15 this June, and about to start her Drivers Ed. classes! Yikes!  I think somewhere inside her is this giant bucket full of ideas.  She just never runs out!  Whatever she does is always beautiful, from a simple homework assignment, to her daily page headings in Biology, to the posters she makes, to how she wraps her gifts.  She just amazes me!  She’s also a big outdoors person.  She has been on eleven backpack trips!  She has also recently become a volunteering fanatic!  Whenever she can she is volunteering, or searching for a summer job (that pays).  She’s such a talented person and I’m so glad she’s my sister : )

OPAL:  Opal is Lily’s little sister (Elsie’s honorary sister).  She is 8 years old. She is a VERY energetic little jumpingbean. She is also doing the play the aristocrats in which she got the part of a goose. In her free time, Opal loves to play with her friends, draw, read, and play outside. Opal is a very talented artist; she makes more of her amazing creations every day.  Opal is also very obsessed with small animals and babies. She combines her love for them with her talent for art and makes little chipmunks and bunny rabbits out of paper or clay.  Then she makes little houses for them with every luxury imaginable. I love her so much! She is a great little sister to have!

xoxo Elsie and Lily

im not wrong. i know im not wrong. but i regret it. and im upset because i did exactly what i needed to and have to live with the result. i hate singleness. but im not desperate (i keep telling myself).

im just gonna keep my distance. no chasing no man, no trying to make him want me. did that already. didnt work.

i quit.

Hostage Heart Book discussion

“The country’s worst hurricane (Katrina) sent more than one million people fleeing from their homes——and in the process affected the largest migration of Americans since the Dust Bowl of the 1930s”, according to a National Public Radio (NPR) report.”

Hostage Heart
by Chelle Cordero
eBook Price: $4.99 USD. 72450 words.
Published by Vanilla Heart Publishing 
Life was hard after the hurricanes swept through, destroying her parents’ home and livelihood… An errand for her boss – a chance encounter with a crew of bank robbers – a kind man who tried to help her … a man who isn’t all he seems…no, he is so much more

Chelle is available for in-person appearances or via SKYPE
for book club appearances & discussions

]]> http://ayearinourlives.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/saturday-may-18th-teamnosleep/ Sat, 18 May 2013 12:06:28 +0000 ayearinourlives http://ayearinourlives.wordpress.com/2013/05/18/saturday-may-18th-teamnosleep/ it’s 5 am. i really shouldn’t complain…there were nights (within this past week) when i woke up around 3.

my mom’s bridal shower is today. WOMP.

i wrote a blog over at http://www.thedramaticallife.com and its pretty banging. you should check it out.

i’m gonna try to sleep.

This morning, the weather is great and lil BBB had to go to “school”. After yesterday’s ordeal I decided that maybe I would just drive him, but I changed my mind so we road to school. I am learning some valuable lessons on what my body really needs, and doesn’t need. I have almost completely quit drinking soda(impart due to the fact my wife can’t drink any now). I must say, it is very refreshing feeling as well, my body feels “healthier” even.

Well, I am off to go work on Katrina for a bit, the chain came off and feels weird this morning.

BBB

The first time I watched it was right before Aminah was born. Second time, when Xfinity put it in On Demand, and I was going through some things.

Now, for the third time, a year later, I’m watching this show and contemplating my life, my relationships, and my future.

My battle with SXM booski…my battle with all my men…I want someone who knows they want me. I want someone who can tell me/show me that, no matter what you’re going through and what you’re dealing with, you’re riding with me.

I’m always choosing men who don’t/can’t/won’t choose me. and i know that if he wanted me, he wouldn’t let me go. but he’s not there. i can’t force him to be there, and i cant convince him, so it has to be it. and i hate to hurt him but i cant continue hurting myself by staying when i fully know the deal.

i know that i’m not going to settle, to chase, to choose anymore. the right one will choose me from the beginning.

Scott Joseph Domeier pleaded guilty to three counts of theft by swindle, and two counts of filing a false tax return, and he will be sentenced on July 13, 2013. He faces up to four years in prison and will pay restitution.

According to the complaint, Domeier engaged in illegal financial activity from 1995 until January 2012, and in addition to misusing the company credit card, he also diverted a check from another parish designated for Katrina relief to purchase a car.

Domeier also had paid for private school for his children with the funds he illegally obtained.

I write and A&R for Tom Tom Magazine, so as soon as the show was over, we planned to link up that week.

Yesterday we met up in the CBD and walked around for a while as I learned her story. Boyanna was from Bulgaria originally and immigrated to New Orleans when she was 9. She has been playing drums for 20 years and is a full time gigging musician in New Orleans. She loves it there, she never wants to leave. There are 2 other top female drummers that she admires there, she says.

The highlight of our day was when she took me to see the Musicians Village. The village was a 4 block range of newly built houses that Habitat for Humanity built in the 9th Ward post Katrina. They were adorable, spacious, brightly covered homes that allowed musicians to own a home in an area they might have once lived.

We saw the newly built community center too- with a state of the art auditorium and classrooms for kids to come study music.

We crossed the industrial canal where the levy was to the Lower 9th Ward to see the Make It Right homes too. Brad Pitt, the face of the foundation, raised hundreds of millions of dollars between 2007-2009 to sponsor architects from around the world to come to that area where the worst damage had been done to build creative and sustainable homes.

They were over the top. They were all kinds of shapes. They were tall. They were solar powered. Their windows were tightly sealed and protected. They were colorful. They used recycled materials.

One of them was designed to detach from its base and float away like a boat in case of extreme flooding, my friend Jay taught me.

I was inspired by America’s tenacity to turn a devastating natural disaster into a call to action to push sustainable living forward.

Feb 8, 2013, the wife asked you if there is something between her husband and you. Here’s how you lied that time when you are actually already sleeping with her husband!!

May 11, 2013, you are telling the husband that you are pregnant just because you were hurt that he is loving her wife more now and leaving you alone. You are proud that you have aborted a baby which we all doubt if really existed.

 And you are even prouder that the husband used you for many times. It’s quite evident that he doesn’t respect you and the fact that you are allowing him to use you tells us that you have a very low self esteem. He does not respect you enough to end his marriage – in reality – he is saying loud and clear – you’re not quite good enough for me in public. Honey, you are basically a c** dumpster. Sorry, but face it, you are his doormat.

The rest is history. Now that the husband and the wife is moving on TOGETHER., KARMA will wreak havoc on you for knowingly sleeping with a married man!!

Clearly you do not fear God. Give that some more thought and also your regard for the family. You are fully aware of your behavior and choose it still. That’s EVIL!!

The Sound and Fury of New Orleans

Thursday, June 27, 7:30 p.m. Monteabaro Recital Hall, The Horowitz Center
at Howard Community College

A look at Katrina New Orleans through a selection of Smith’s Blood Dazzler poems set to the music of Wynton Marsalis’ Octoroon Balls.

“Reading poems like these, overflowing with life but
contained by art, makes us all feel a little bit helpless.
These poems are blessings that will move like white
light through your veins.”   – American Book Review

Straight from its world premiere at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, this powerful blend of poetry and music is “breath-taking” and “not-to-be-missed.”  Patricia Smith recites poems from her collection Blood Dazzler in the voices of the people lost in the floods and fury of Hurricane Katrinia accompanied by the rich, spicy music of Wynton Marsalis played by Washington D.C.’s Sage String Quartet. Marsalis’ At the Octoroon Balls is a dramatic gumbo of jazz, blues, Americana and European classical music.  This performance was conceived and premiered at the 2012 Dodge Poetry Festival and has never been performed elsewhere.

Tickets available through the Columbia Festival of the Arts website.

Presented in partnership with the Columbia Festival of the Arts and Howard Community College.

Cortney and Donnie were together for five years. But, there is “no possible way” Donnie could be the father, says Cortney. They were broken up for three months when she became pregnant for another man. Katrina says she and Donnie only slept together one time but she is positive that Donnie is her baby daddy. Donnie disputes Katrina’s claim saying he has no recollection of ever sleeping with Katrina. Both women say Donnie has 15 children.

When Donnie comes on stage, he says Cortney is lying. He says Aiden is his son. Maury asks Donnie are you the father of Katrina’s son. Donnie adamantly denies the child. Apparently, Katrina is lying, as well.

Donnie admits to fathering 13 children when Maury asks him how many children he has. Maury gives some advice to Donnie, “put a cap on it.”  Then Maury asks how many of those children he has a relationship with, Donnie confesses that he is only involved in the lives of one or two of his children.

The paternity test results are in. Maury reads Katrina’s outcome first. Donnie IS the father. Cortney tells Donnie, directly, “I don’t love you, Donnie,” when he says he loves her. Maury reads the second conclusion, “In the case of eight month old Aiden, Donnie you ARE the father.” Cortney is horrified and runs off the stage, her right, our left.

Ladies, do not become involved with men who have children in the double digits. These guys are always deadbeats.

I recently started following the workout plan of Karena and Katrina at TONE IT UP!

Every Monday they send out the full week’s workout plan, plus a new workout video each week.

I am in love!

Their workouts are efficient as they work your whole body and the variety of workouts throughout the week is so much better than hopping on an elliptical every day.

I am super excited as the TONE IT UP girls challenged us last night to reach 100 miles by Summer!  You can run, walk, bike, swim, or do machines to get your miles in.  And there are six weeks left until the official start of Summer, so that is only 2.5 miles a day.  Totally do-able!

I’m excited to use this challenge to get into even better running shape.

Today is the first day of the challenge, so y’all should think about joining me :)

Also, if you are a chica looking to get into swimsuit shape, you can join for free at ToneItUp.com.

Here’s to a healthy summer, loves!

xo

Niki

{All opinions in this post are my own.  This is not a sponsored posted.}

{photo found here}

]]> http://ayearinourlives.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/sunday-may-12th-so-mothers-day-just-sucked-ass/ Mon, 13 May 2013 04:21:04 +0000 ayearinourlives http://ayearinourlives.wordpress.com/2013/05/12/sunday-may-12th-so-mothers-day-just-sucked-ass/ my mother’s day—

– I lost my iPad

– My phone is almost completely broken (seriously, I can only send one word text messages)

– while I couldn’t cry yesterday, today every time I was in the car i cried…not like boo-hoo, but eyes red and can’t really see…

– outside of a card from the Diva that my mom got her because I fussed about no one even taking her shopping to get me a $2 card…i didn’t get no dates or sweet treats…

so tired…just done…

anyway, my mom wants beignets for breakfast. two hours preparing new orleans doughnuts (that i love and don’t mind making) but in the mood i’m in today…doesn’t even feel worth it.

my patience reached its end on friday. i think sxm booski and i are done. not happy about it, but i’ll be okay. trying to cry, but its just not happening. i spent four hours straight  yesterday just driving…to san francisco, to oakland, to san francisco, to hayward. blaring my gospel music loud. trying to cry. getting lost.

friday i went out with my homegirls that I hadn’t seen since last year. they made me want to move back. i left cali just as i was beginning to find my place. but moving back is unlikely. i would need a JOB…and that has to be the absolute last thing i want.

thursday and wednesday, i found out that ABC and NBC have writers programs that are open for applications. The one at ABC is a job, while the one at NBC is a 12-wk class that can set you up for a job. both require an application and a spec script. ABC requires recommendations. if i got this, then i would be moving to LA and not to SXM. hence the drama with booski. part of me doesnt want to risk it. the problem with putting your eggs in different baskets…it feels like your spreading yourself too thin. i dont want to live in the states, and i damn sure don’t want to be in LA, but for what I want in my career (to have my own show), at some point i’m gonna have to suck it up and make that move. all roads lead to Los Angeles. but, if i’m gonna make moves to LA, i don’t want to do it alone. i have handled enough problems on my own, and i am tired. i need help. i need support. i need to not feel like this is all on me all the time.

he likes my company but he doesn’t want me. we’ll talk for hours upon hours and go to sleep at some ungodly hour and wake up the next morning and do it again. but i need something real…something legitimate. and i have been trying to wait for it but i need to know what you want. no more niceties, no more vagueness. if you want me then say so. if you dont, or if you dont know, then i need to concentrate on me. maybe sxm and booski were unrealistic.

i pray about it. i know what i want. but what if what i want is not for me? then i don’t get it. what if what i need is what i don’t want…or i want it but i don’t want what comes with it. i don’t want LA. but I want the show. i want to provide for my family. i want to have a happy mothers day for once. i want to be loved and appreciated. i don’t want to do everything myself anymore. but if i have to then i damn sure will.

i don’t want to want someone who doesn’t want me. i don’t want to be strung along. you need to decide now what you want. because i am not going to put my life on hold anymore.

i thought i was inventing problems, but truth is i was sensing something that i wasn’t sure i was ready to admit to. i knew the deal. i just didn’t want to know the deal.

i’m gonna go to the store to get the ingredients for the beignets. then i’m gonna get started on this spec script.

mothers day sucks. i really want to crawl into a hole somewhere and come out when this day is over.