I had a thought earlier today.  Being alone again… there’s nobody to tell me, “Mary, that’s a dumb idea.”  Not that John ever quite said it that way or ever treated me like that– I’m a little more blunt.

But at the same time there’s nobody to tell me “Mary, that’s a dumb idea.”

With John it was more the gentle reminders that I needed to get some sleep.  Or “did you feed the horses yet?” (which by the way, I haven’t yet).   Or “we need to remember to…”  Or the “what do you think about…” Or “don’t forget to…”

Confiding in a soul-mate and sharing a partnership together are some of the things I miss the most.  I miss them everyday, but I miss them most when it comes to matters of Nathaniel.  I don’t want to be the person that decides if it is safe for him to get vaccinated for H1N1 of if it is dangerous for him not to get it.  (He has gotten his first shot and is scheduled for dose number two.)   I want to be one of two parents who decides together how to best raise their child.  You know the way it ideally is… in a perfect world.  But, in a perfect world your beloved spouse doesn’t die of cancer at 35…

Everything is now my decision to make- for wrong of for right.  In a way it’s nice to know that there won’t be any conflict in parental matters- it’s my way or the highway.  (Practicing for the teenage years.)  I can do things that I want to do- if I want to go take Nathaniel somewhere, I just do it.  No, “not now… maybe later”… “I’m tired…”  or “I don’t feel like it,”  or “why don’t you just go (aka I’m not interested and don’t want to join you).”  I’m tired of learning things the hard way.  Hoping I’ll be making more right decisions, but I’m fully aware that I’ll make wrong ones too.

All that being said, I think I’m doing mostly okay on my own.  I ask for opinions when I need them and make my own decisions.  I’m pretty good at researching and collecting data.  I’m an adult and quite capable of making my own decisions.  I just wish John was still here to help me make up my mind.

Mary J. Blige has released the artwork to her new album Stronger With Each Tear, which is her ninth full-lengther. The album was originally and tentatively titled Stronger, but that has changed. There have been three singles released from this album, all of which lackluster. No word yet on which ones will be on the album, let’s hope none. As for the cover, it’s regular but elegant.

29 days till the BIRTH of CHRIST,

and 4 days till the beginning of the ADVENT season.

“HO, HO , HO-ly God, We Praise Thy Name!”

Quote of the Day:

 The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close.

 

Today’s Meditation:

The Canticle of the Sun by Francis of Assisi (day 9 of 14):

… Be praised, my Lord [Jesus], through our sister Mother Earth, who feeds us and rules us, and produces various fruits with colored flowers and herbs. …

On reading this, I can’t help but think of the beautiful stories of creation from Genesis.  I picture God making all creation, and then strolling through the garden, with Adam & Eve.  With an easy conversation between the three of them; they are lightly touching the plants, and stroking the heads and backs of the animals: the three of them smiling and laughing at the majesty and beauty of what God had created for us. 

God created all the animals and plants for our use.  It disappoints me that most humans abuse this gift, and responsibility.  We are slowly destroying our resources, and I believe God is not happy.  He will not stop us though, because He gave us a ’free will.’  The quote, “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature’” is true.

I pray we learn from our mistakes and selfishness.  Please Lord, help us to find our way to be good stewards of this precious gift you gave us – the earth, and its resources.  Amen.

The full text of “The Canticle of the Sun” can be found at many web sites

including: http://www.poverello-society.org/prayer_canticle.htm.

 

Pax et Bonum

Dan Halley, SFO

*****

 

Franciscan Saint of the Day:  Bl. Elizabeth of Reute, virgin, III Ord

Elizabeth was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis, born 25 November, 1386, at Waldsee in Swabia, of John and Anne Acheer; died 25 November, 1420.

From her earliest days “the good Betha”, as she was called, showed a rare piety.  When fourteen she received the habit of the third order, but continued to live at home. Finding the life uncongenial, she secured the consent of her parents after long entreaties to leave home.   Receiving no support from them she remained at the house of a pious tertiary, and the two worked at weaving; but the remuneration was small and they frequently suffered from hunger and other privations. After three years Conrad Kugelin established a house for tertiaries at Reute on the outskirts of Waldsee and Elizabeth entered it together with some others.

Here she took up her work in the kitchen, and now began her wonderful life of seclusion, fasting, and prayer. There was no clausura at the convent, still she led so retired a life that she was called “the Recluse.” She spent many hours in a little garden, kneeling on a stone or prostrate on the ground in contemplation.  So pure was her life that her confessor could scarcely find matter for absolution. She had much to suffer from attacks of the evil spirit, from suspicions of her sisters in religion, from leprosy, and other sicknesses, but in all her trials she showed a heavenly patience. This she learned from the Passion of Christ, which she made the continual subject of meditation, the object of her love, and the rule of her life.

In consequence God permitted her to bear the marks of the Passion on her body; her head often showed the marks of the Thorns, and her body those of the Scourging. The stigmata appeared only now and then, but her pains never ceased. She was shown the happiness of the blessed and the souls in the state of purgation; the secrets of hearts and of the future were unveiled to her.

She foretold the election of Martin V and the end of the Western Schism. Though so much favoured by Divine Providence she always preserved a great humility. After her death she was buried in the church of Reute. Her life was written by her confessor and sent to the Bishop of Constance, but it was only after 1623, when her tomb was opened by the provost of Waldsee, that her popular veneration spread in Swabia. After several miracles had been wrought through her intercession the Holy See was asked to ratify her cult. This was done 19 June, 1766, by Clement XIII. The Franciscans celebrate her feast on 25 November. (from Catholic Encyclopedia). Please note that many Tertiaries in those days lived together in a fashion similar to a convent or monastery. Even in Europe until the mid-1950’s, these community houses existed, at least in the Netherlands /FSS.

 (From http://www.franciscan-sfo.org website)

 

Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) Rule #25:

Regarding expenses necessary for the life of the fraternity and the needs of worship, of the apostolate, and of charity, all the brothers and sisters should offer a contribution according to their means. Local fraternities should contribute toward the expenses of the higher fraternity councils.

Lately, we’ve been reading Luke chapter 1 (okay—long chapter!) as a family.  Here’s a thought about that!

#1.  Funny comment – When Zecharaiah was made mute by the angel because he did not believe Gabriel’s words, my daughter, Eden said, he had a mutiny.

#2.  A fun way I found to talk about the chapter is to compare and contrast the Announcement to Zechariah with the Announcement to Mary.  

Similarities:

• they are both visited by angels
• they are both surprised and scared
• they will both have sons (with first names beginning with “J”
• they both have questions

Differences:

• they have a different way of asking about their announcements, “How can I be sure?” vs. “How will this be…?”
• one boy will be a prophet, the other will be king and savior
• one announcement was in the temple, the other in a peasant home

If you are sharing family worship with your family and want a great place to read, I recommend Luke.  “Dr. Luke,” as we call him, is a very good story teller who loves people.  Pay attention together to details.

If you’re not presently experiencing the joys of family worship/bible conversations, the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas is a natural time to begin. 

Mix To Go Magazine Presents

DANCE AFTER DARK | The Mix Show

The theme: “At A Classic Pitch”

Dance After Dark

Mix by DJ FREEDOM

Live at 632 Studios in Brooklyn, New York City

Monday, November 23, 2009

(DOWNLOAD LINK AT BOTTOM OF SONG LIST)

SONG LIST:

(1) Razamatazz (Free*Mix) – Quincy Jones

(2) Portuguese Love (Free*Mix) – Phil Asher’s Miami Samba Vs DJ Freedom’s Tribal

(3) You’re My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration (Quentin Harris Remix) – Teddy Pendergrass

(4) Make Sure Your Sure (Quentin Harris & Timmy Regisford Remix) – Stevie Wonder

(5) Baby I’m Scared of You (Free*Mix) – Womack & Womack

(6) Still In Love With You (Masters At Work Dub) – Melisa Morgan

(7) Forget Me Nots (DJ Freedom’s Back To Basics Mix) – Patrice Rushen

(8) Club Lonely (Original Vocal Mix) – Lil Louis

(9) Everybody Dance – Chic

(10) Encore (Freedom’s Classic Club Vocal Remix) – Cheryl Lynn

(11) In The AM (Quentin’s Remix Vs DJ Freedom’s Remix) – Mary J Blige…dedicated to cousin Ann Douglas!

(12) Horizons (Freedom’s Classic House Remix) – The Sylvers

(13) Nights Over Egypt (Freedom’s Nights Over Ibiza Remix) – The Jones Girls

(14) Super Constellation 2009 (Freedom’s Disco Pitch Remix) – Sousa & Mad

(15) Ecstasy (Freedom’s Classic Pitch Remix) – Barry White

(16) Ready 4 More – International Featuring Miss Lynsey

(17) The Night The Lights Went Out (The Black Science Orchestra Remix) – The Trammps

(18) Don’t Talk Just Dance _Free*Mix Project Featuring Jon B

(19) No One – Maxwell

(20) Bad Times (I Can’t Stand It) -Captain Rapp

http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FIWPVCN4

Jesus no literal Son of God; OT does not support it
http://forum09.faithfreedom.org/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=4701&p=81965#p81965

Hi friends

I submit more from the OT to establish my view point that Jesus was not literally son of god:

Psalms 81:
1 A psalm for Asaph. God hath stood in the congregation of gods: and being in the midst of them he judgeth gods. 2 How long will you judge unjustly: and accept the persons of the wicked? 3 Judge for the needy and fatherless: do justice to the humble and the poor. 4 Rescue the poor; and deliver the needy out of the hand of the sinner. 5 They have not known nor understood: they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth shall be moved.
6 I have said: You are gods and all of you the sons of the most High. 7 But you like men shall die: and shall fall like one of the princes. 8 Arise, O God, judge thou the earth: for thou shalt inherit among all the nations.

http://www.drbo.org/chapter/21081.htm

So, the according to the usage of the Bible; the Clergy and the Priests are also the Son of God; nothing special for Jesus.
I think that our Atheists Agnostics would support our principled stance; out of their free will.

I love Jesus and Mary as mentioned in Quran.

Thanks

Jesus was not Son of God: Usage of Old Testament
http://forum09.faithfreedom.org/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=4701&p=81467#p81467

Hi friends

The Christians say that Jesus was told in Torah and the Gospels as son of god hence he was son of God, literally.
.
This is wrong and is against the usage of Torah and the Gospel as in them these words have not been used for Jesus exclusively but these words have been used hundreds of time for other men also and the Christians don’t admit hem as son of god. Jesus was mentioned a s son of god so it has been mentioned for others

Examples:

Exodus 4:22.
And thou shalt say to him: Thus saith the Lord: Israel is my son, my firstborn. Israel is my son, my firstborn.
Psalms 88:21-26
21 I have found David my servant: with my holy oil I have anointed him. 22 For my hand shall help him: and my arm shall strengthen him. 23 The enemy shall have no advantage over him: nor the son of iniquity have power to hurt him. 24 And I will cut down his enemies before his face; and them that hate him I will put to flight. 25 And my truth and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted.
26 And I will set his hand in the sea; and his right hand in the rivers. 27 He shall cry out to me: Thou art my father: my God, and the support of my salvation. 28 And I will make him my firstborn, high above the kings of the earth.
So, in the usage of Bible all righteous and loved – ones of God have been mentioned as son of god; nothing special for Jesus.

I love Jesus and Mary as mentioned in Quran.

Thanks

I am an Ahmadi peaceful Muslim

O Magnify the Lord, O Magnify the Lord, O Magnify the Lord with me.

O Magnify the Lord, O Magnify the Lord, O Magnify the Lord with me.

And let us exalt His name together, and let us exalt His name together.

O Magnify the Lord, O Magnify the Lord, O Magnify the Lord with me!

If Mary, the mother of Jesus, had known this song, I’m sure she would have sung these words many times.   Isn’t this what she is inviting Elisabeth to do?  As we read the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) isn’t she inviting us to do this as well?

Psalm 34:3 is Hebrew poetry.  The NIV translates this verse “Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together.”

Magnificat = Latin title from the opening words of Luke 1:46-55.   St. Jerome in the 4th Century A.D. translated the Scriptures from Hebrew and Greek into Latin.

Magnificat – meaning – glorifies, magnifies, declares the greatness of…

Notice how God-centred this song is.  It is NOT focused on Mary.  It is focused on GOD!   This song is an outburst of praise.   Mary has had a few weeks for the announcement of the angel to sink in.

{An interesting comparative study would be to compare this song by Mary with that of the song of Hannah, the mother of Samuel in I Samuel 2}

Magnificat

WHO GOD IS

v.46  He is the LORD – not “a” LORD but “the” LORD

v.46  He is God  – cf Ruth 1 – “…and your God my God”  – Who is your God?  What is your God like?  Is He the God of the Bible?

v.46 He is my Saviour – Do you know God as your Saviour?   Remember only sinners need a Saviour

Augustine, Catholic bishop of Hippo in Africa – (4th Century) writes “Mary was more blessed in that she believed in Christ than in that she had given him birth?

What attributes of God fill this song of praise?

a) His might; b) His holiness; c) His mercy; d) His strength; e) His power; f) His provision; g) His help

Meditate on each of these attributes

WHAT GOD HAS DONE

God has done mighty things – What had God done for Mary?  What has God done for you?

He has regarded the “lowly state” – God was aware of her humble position in life.

His name is holy.   Mary reverenced God’s name.   cf. Lord’s prayer “Hallowed be your Name”

v.50 His mercy – generational – Each new generation can experience the mercy of God

v.51-53 3 parallel statements

On the one side – the proud, the mighty, the rich.

On the other side – the humble, the weak, the poor

How has God treated each group?

In teaching this passage there are some great religious “images” or “paintings” you may find under Google “IMAGES?”

I recently taught this passage at Richmond Hill Baptist and explored the depths of worship portrayed in this wonderful Christmas song of praise!

Vreny here:

Our Icky’s Ego show last week at the Aqualounge in Beverly Hills was an incredibly fun experience.

A BIG THANK YOU to all who came to see our show. It meant the world to us to see all your lovely faces there.
I learned a very important thing on that show, and made an important decision after playing this show.
I learned how much fun it really is to see your friends at your shows. As a result: I have decided to go see at least 1 show a week of someone I know. I already started this when I went to check out the show of my friend Cory Phillips yesterday at the Good Hurt.

The Aqualounge is an amazing lounge/club with a fabulous interior design. This is THE place to go to if you want to enjoy classic rock and hard rock siting in comfortable seats in a cozy, relaxed environment.

But while the atmosphere and vibe in the Aqualounge was very attractive and fun to be immersed into… it was THE PEOPLE there who made the vibe and who made our night.

We feel very fortunate to have such amazing friends in our lives, coming to our shows.

We, at the Icky’s Ego Castle, after numerous bottles of tequila and wine, were driven by a divine inspiration when suddenly it hit us: “We need to introduce our Ego Maniacs to each other so they all get to know each other and enjoy each other’s fun presence as much as we Icky’s do”.
So here it comes: “World… meet our Ego Maniacs (and come join their growing numbers)”.
(click on the names of each person to go visit their facebook/myspace/websites and find out more about them)

Al Marotta: I am glad I could return the favor coming to see you rock out again with Cory Phillips on Keyboards. You’re a hell of a keyboard player and I am proud to have shared the stage so often with you. Thank you for coming to our show at Taix a couple of weeks ago. I am excited about forming the instrumental jazz-rock band we talked about.

Jose Gonzalez: haha… my hiking buddy. Mount Baldy is nothing to us. Also a kick ass drummer, who I will be sharing the stage with this coming Saturday with The Swagger Sticks. Come hang out with me, Aron and Jose this Saturday. Thanks a mill Jose for coming to one of our shows at Taix.

Aron Gibson: bro… what would we do without you? Thank you for coming to ALL our shows haha. You’re our “Headmaster Ego Maniac”. I am super anxious to be on that stage with you this coming Saturday with The Swagger Sticks. Aron is one of my guitar Alumni. He’s also the rocking front man of The Swagger Sticks.

“Ego Maniacs“… Meet Leah Hanna King. Leah is my ALL TIME TOP favorite female vocalist. We’ve been knowing each other for centuries, yet this show at the Aqualounge was THE FIRST TIME she saw me perform live. All the other times she saw me, she was on stage as well cause I was her guitar player. Keep an eye of for this girl… she’s on the brink of becoming world famous.

Another dude who will walk the path to fame, is Joel Van Dijk. He’s a fellow colleague guitar teacher, and he lives a 3 minute walk from my place. Competitor? Not at all: great friend. The world is a big place: there’s work and wealth in abundance. Joel is one of THE most spiritually rich and aware people on the planet. I was glad to see him at our show, and I can’t wait to go check out HIS shows… he’s a fantastic guitar player and multi instrumentalist.

Brian Paperny... my dear good old friend. I will never forget how you gave me the MOST amazing concert experience ever, when you gave me Brian Setzer Orchestra tickets as a present 2 years ago. I was so darn happy to see you at our show at the Aqualounge. Hope your beautiful rocking orange Gretsch guitar isn’t collecting dust. Give your beautiful, lovely Brazilian girlfriend a big hug from me. Thank you guys for all the love and support.

Ben “Rasputin” Sidnikov: a kick ass drummer. Thanks a mill bro for coming to the show. I can’t wait to hang out with you in the new recording studio you work at. I am very excited about jamming together in the studio and working on projects. Your presence at our show made my day. Life is so weird and funny: if you had not had the courage to defect Russia in the Cold War days, we never would have met. So glad to have you at our show. I already know you and me will be the main back up band at the New Year’s Eve party haha.

“Ego Maniacs”, meet Brad Raderman. Brad takes guitar lessons with me, and loves EVERYTHING music. There isn’t one style we have not covered yet. Besides being a guitarist, he’s a kick ass lawyer who loves his trips to Bakersfield to figure out legal intricacies nobody dares to meddle with. He’s a sharp mind combined with a laid back fun personality. I was just really happy too see his face at the show.

Billie Anderson, lead and rhythm guitarist in Mandala, and guitar alumni of mine. Billie went from beginner, to REALLY friggin awesome guitar player in NO TIME at all. It felt good to my ego as a guitar teacher, but it really wasn’t me: he’s just THAT talented. Billie and I have been knowing each other FOR EVER. He’s not just one of my closest friends in town: Billie and his brother Joey are like brothers to me. It feels like we grew up together. Good to see you at our show bro.

Greg; house mate of Billie and Joey. Greg and I spent numerous night till early morning hours sitting on the porch of their house with a beer, discussing philosophy, existentialism, art, the mind, psychology and other enlightening subjects. And now I get to see him every week cause he decided to push his guitar playing to the next level. Thanks a mill Greg for coming to the show. Thank your friend Lee also for coming and give her a big hug from the Icky’sEgo band.

Lisa Steele. Lisa is definitely the loveliest person I have ever met. She’s learning guitar, and through learning guitar, learning about HERSELF. Like the Zen masters say: “Through one thing, know everything”. This definitely applies to Lisa, who is discovering more than she had imagined about life and herself, through the journey of guitar. Thank you for letting me be part of this journey Lisa: I will love you for ever for that. You’re one of our most devoted fans, and the Icky people love you. Thank you for your love and support.

Peter Petro: man… what would I do without you? Peter and I work on each other’s projects and are trying to make each other miljonairs. (it’s a long term project lol). Peter was my supervisor when I worked radio promotion, shortly after my move to LA. He’s my marketing and business go to guy if I need advice. He teaches radio promotion at renowned Musician’s Institute. He’s also a very special friend. When are we gonna go hiking again?

Justin Schaid: I was excited to hear about your new band project “Hear & Now”. Can’t wait to see you live. You can be darn sure the whole Icky’s Ego crew is going to be at your show when you perform. Justin is a super talented graphic artist and designer, who worked numerous amazing artistic projects. He’s one of the people I am gonna have to talk to when I need help with the book that I am writing.

Pascal Demeester and Keiko: I’ve only gotten to know you recently in past 2-3 weeks, but we’ve grown to love you guys instantly. Pascal is a BELGIAN (woohooo), unbelievably talented photographer. His partner, Keiko, is an equally talented hair design and make up artist. Icky’s Ego is super excited that you will be helping us with visual stuff and photography for the band. This is one of the best things that could happen to us.

Matt Crocco… yes the brother of Icky member David. Matt is a multi instrumentalist in a league of his own, playing drums and keyboards. He’s also super funny, and one of the co-inventors and developers of the sock puppets shows on MTV with his buddy Liam Lynch. We love Sifl&Olly

A big thank you to Charles Davis and Mariam George, longtime friends of David and Cela, and big supporters of the band. Thanks for everything, we love you guys!

Last but not least, a special shout out to Brian Hardin Brian is our driving force at the castle in the hills where Icky’s Ego resides. He’s a world class, world renowned top producer whose album credits are STAGGERING. He’s also the easiest person one can imagine to work with and super funny. Here’s his site: Brian David Hardin (on his site: click on the link “credits” and be amazed).

Icky’s Ego THANKS YOU for supporting us at our shows and in our musical journey.
It means the world to us.

As you can see: our “Ego Maniacs” are a very talented, diverse group of people… you all deserve to be called amazing “Maniacs” in your fields and endeavors.
We are very proud and honored to have you all in our lives and we are always thrilled to feel your presence and energy in the room when we are rocking out on stage.

Much love from Vreny and Icky’s Ego.
Vreny, David, Cela and Philo

~ Mary ~

Oh so light and oh so refreshing!  And only four ingredients.  Slap this one next to the traditional jellied goo that comes from the can – because you don’t want to disturb anyones traditional holiday feasting – and see what transpires.  I guarantee it will become a NEW tradition for the adventurous folks at the table.

This one came from John’s brother (Lewis) and sister-in-law (Mary).  Thank you Lewis & Mary it’s my favorite!

Fresh Cranberry Salsa

3 Cups Fresh Cranberries – 1 pound bag

3 Cups Large Diced Oranges

1/2 Cup Sugar

2 tsp Dried Mint OR a handful of Fresh!

Put everything into the food processor and pulse until you get your desired consistency.  Add more sugar if you like it sweeter.

Fick ett mail av Mary och hon ville ha en veckorapport av mig.  Om jag skulle ge henne en veckorapport när jag samtidigt jämför med hennes nuvarande veckorapport så kommer jag nog kasta sten i mitt eget öga! Jag fick en tår och skulle ta mig samman och koka kaffe. Då sprutar vattnet i handfatet så hårt så jag blev blöt från midjan och ner och jag började skratta igen.  De e stabilt ,  Stabilt som fan.

This is part 2 of a video posted on YouTube by Nodoubt257, and it goes deeper into the subject of the Roman Catholic Church being Babylon, the Great Whore of the book of Revelations. In this video, the subject of Mariolatry (the worship of Mary, the mother of Jesus) is analyzed in depth, and the connection between Mary and the Queen of Heaven spoken of by the prophet Jeremiah is well established. Come out of her, My people, says the Lord!

The Soul Train Awards are back!!!

While many are still talking about how much better the American Music Awards were, I was checking out footage from the Soul Train Awards…
href=”http://www.bet.com/video/678487″>

The following are the nominees and BOLD are the winners I think will get it.

BEST NEW ARTIST

• DRAKE (I think he’ll get it)
• Jazmine Sullivan
• Keri Hilson
• Ryan Leslie (I’d like to see him get it)
• Solange

BEST R&B/SOUL ARTIST FEMALE

• BEYONCE (As usual, they’ll give it to her)
• Chrisette Michelle (I think she deserves it)
• Jennifer Hudson
• Ledisi
• Whitney Houston

BEST MALE R&B/SOUL MALE

• Charlie Wilson
• MAXWELL (I think he’ll get it AND deserves it!!!)
• Musiq Soulchild
• Raphael Saadiq
• Robin Thicke

SONG OF THE YEAR

• “God in Me” – MARY MARY (It was big and a close second!)
• “Pretty Wings” – Maxwell (I’d like to see this late entry win)
• “Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)” – BEYONCE (She’ll win but not by much!)
• “Spotlight” – Jennifer Hudson
• “Turnin Me On” – Keri Hilson/ ft Lil Wayne

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

• Beyonce – I am… Sasha Fierce (Platinum) Sony Music
• Jamie Foxx – Intuition (Platinum) J Records
• Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak (Platinum) Roc-A-Fella/Def Jam
• MAXWELL – Blacksummer’s Night (Gold) Sony Music
(My choice to win although Kanye’s album minus his personal drama was superb if you are just talking about music!)
• Ne-Yo – Year of the Gentleman

RECORD OF THE YEAR (SONGWRITER AWARD)

• Beyonce – “Single Ladies (Put a ring on it)”
• Drake – “Best I ever had”
• Jamie Foxx Ft/T-Pain – “Blame it”
• Keri Hilson – “Knock You Down”
• MAXWELL – “Pretty Wings” (Hands DOWN if you are talking about the QUALITY of writing)

BEST REGGAE ARTIST AWARD
• Movado (He had a fairly good year but may not stand out compared to Sean)
• SEAN PAUL (because the people who choose them always go to the guy most popular they’ll probably choose him)
• Serani
• Taurus Riley
• Ziggy Marley

CENTRIC AWARD – SOUL APPROVED/UNDERGROUND

• Corneille
• Eric Roberson
• LAURA IZABOR (I think she’ll win as the most visible, held up and I have not stopped playing this album. Great work musically though I wouldn’t say “underground.” Atlantic just didn’t promoter her)
• Maysa
• The Knux

BEST GOSPEL PERFORMANCE MALE, FEMALE OR GROUP

• BeBe and CeCe Winans – “Close To You”
• Fred Hammond f/John P Kee – “They That Wait”
• Marvin Sapp – “Praise Him in Advance”
• MARY MARY – “God In Me” (As the biggest crossover they’ll win hands down…and I happen to think it’s a great song anyway with a greater message)
• Smokie Norful – “Justified”

BEST COLLABORATION

• Keri Hilson featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo – “Knock you Down”
• Keyshia Cole featuring Monica – “Trust”
• MARIO featuring Gucci Mane and Sean Garrett – “Break up” (I choose this song although it may be too street for some tastes…but the combination of flows made for an engaging journey into downtempo Rhythm & Beats aka R&B)
• Mary Mary featuring Kierra (KiKi) Sheard – “God In Me”
• Trey Songz featuring Drake – “Successful” (People like this dude Drake right now and Trey finally got some hits out this year beyond New York and ATL…This was a good second place mention)

ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR

• Michael Jackson

Since there weren’t any choices, it goes to Michael. It goes to him not because he was the best this year but because he died this year, let’s keep it real. This music industry is so politically inclined they couldn’t just say we are giving MJ the accolades we haven’t given out of guilt…maybe if more of us were supportive and loving toward one of the greatest to ever do it then maybe the people closer to him would have done more to protect and take care of him.

Looking forward to seeing who actually wins! Maybe the industry can take notes from the AMAs by giving awards based on sales and not politics since sales mean PEOPLE chose the winners! *Pardon me Grammys* but the voters are not necessarily in tune with the music…I’ll get on their case in another blog coming soon!

*Freedom*
www.socialtravelers.net
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Mary got a “weather” calendar [it's our 2010 calendar, but she fell in love with it at the bookstore and we got it because she liked it so much]. The January picture is of the northern lights.

Mary: Mom, is aurora borealis?
Me: What?
Mary: Is aurora borealis?
Me: Right now? I don’t know what you’re looking at, but I doubt it’s aurora borealis.
Mary: NO! Not looking at it. Aurora borealis is?
Me: Is what?
Mary: Is somewhere?
Me: Are you asking if it exists?
Mary: Yes. Aurora borealis is?
Me: Yes, it’s real. It’s just not here.
Mary: Oh.

http://forum09.faithfreedom.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=4053&p=81775#p81775

Hi friends

Burqa and Niqab were in use in the House of Israel; it is mentioned in Torah:

Genesis 38:14

13 And it was told Thamar that her father in law was come up to Thamnas to shear his sheep. 14 And she put off the garments of her widowhood, and took a veil*: and changing her dress, sat in the cross way, that leadeth to Thamnas: because Sela was grown up, and she had not been married to him. 15 When Juda saw her, he thought she was a harlot: for she had covered her face, lest she should be known.

*”and took a veil: and changing her dress” this has been translated in the Urdu Catholic Bible ” aur Burqah ourha aur Niqab dala” which means she put on a Burqa and put on a Niqab. May be the Arabic Bible also uses the same words, I have not checked it.

So Burqah and Niqab were in vogue in Jacob’s time. Mary also used to be dressed fully, one could go and see in a church how the Christians project her. Similarly the nuns are also dressed in full.

Quran/Islam/Muhammad followed the same good tradition of Abraham’s family.

I love Jesus and Mary as mentioned in Quran.

Thanks

A post I’ve wanted to make for some time is how I came to be doing this at all.

I mean, I know I wrote this, right back at the beginning, which explains the why of it – but the how of it is down to the people who put me in a position even to think that someone like me could sustain a non-native bilingual existence with my first-born for a matter of weeks, let alone the 21 months we have so far clocked up between us, one day at a time (as we say in the After School Club.) 

I have been lucky and had a lot of talented teachers in all disciplines in my life, most of which was (at least, prior to the After School Club watershed) spent in full-time education. But a few of them have given me confidence that I was able to take outside the classroom, confidence which saw me through the lessons of the many rubbish teachers I have also had, and, in a way – though the faults are all my own – helped create the Francophone monster that is Papa et Piaf. 

Here they are. 

Martin was probably the first, though he came on the scene at about the same time as Nadia (see below). The first teacher to make me realise that French was a language that people actually used, rather than a verbal trigonometry. He smoked immensely and, again, his failing made him seem more human. He was a caustic, cynical man in some ways and regularly referred to hapless students as “cretins”, which was one of the many things I liked about him – he didn’t pretend to like everyone just because they were children. This meant that, if ever he did show signs of liking you, you could actually believe it might be true. 

And he was, in other ways, tremendously kind. I remember going to see him once after the lesson because I thought I didn’t understand the perfect tense (yes, I really was that much of a loser.) I ended up actually crying (a loser AND a wimp – hands off, ladies, I’m practically married!) When he saw how distressed I was, Martin spent half his break talking me through it (remember, this man was probably a forty-a-day smoker who self-medicated on Gauloises and must have lived for his breaks. )

Several years later, he also enlivened A-level by actually telling us things we might want to know, and hinting at the dirty bits in Camus. Without him, I probably wouldn’t have bothered doing French past GCSE.

Nadia arrived at our school when I was in what was then called the third year. She came to teach us Russian, taking over from a man who had learnt his Russian spying on Soviet air traffic. She was a real Russian; she was very short; she claimed to have a brown belt in karate; she was clearly mad. Nadia, again, made a language seem much more than lists of declensions (of which Russian has many). With her, we could imagine people actually living, loving, arguing, even doing karate in this then very rare language (perestroika didn’t really get underway until my GCSE year.) When I sat A level, Nadia coached me. When I applied to Oxford, Nadia gave me extra lessons, free of charge, which is basically what got me in. When I wanted to go to Russia, Nadia helped me sort it out, and gave me a few pointers on how to get extra hard currency through customs. When I thought that Chekhov was tosh, Nadia reassured me that I was not alone. And she also said one of the nicest things a teacher had ever said to me. We were flying to Moscow together. Somehow, we were talking about my family, particularly my mum. “Well, she’s done a good job,” said Nadia. It took me a second to realise what she meant and, when I did, I must have been pink with pride. A teacher thinking that I was not only a good student, but a good person? There was hope for me yet.

Mary was the one-woman welcoming committee when I arrived at Oxford. She had given me my place (when my first choice college had, foolishly, rejected me); she had patiently and politely answered some nonsense letter I had written to her before starting (about something nothing to do with her, like bedding or grants – I had so little idea about how Oxford worked that I just wrote to the only person whose address I had on paper, and it was hers, on my offer letter); and she welcomed me, along with my fellow first-year starters, into her North Oxford sitting room in October long, long ago. 

I was not, at that point, studying French. I was at college to do single honours Russian (the English faculty had decided it could struggle by without me.) I was amazed that I was at Oxford, and was liberated by having no idea what to expect. 

The intake that year seemed beyond good. A half-Russian man; a half-Polish woman; a frighteningly gifted man who had taught himself Hungarian for a laugh; and me. And this woman, Mary, was posher than anyone I knew – she had a ‘cello, for heaven’s sake! I almost gave up, there and then.

But Mary did not give up on me. Always quick with praise and measured with criticism; always acting as if my admission had been a considered choice and not a slip of the pen on some long, closely-printed list of names; always taking her students seriously, even when we spoke nonsense. After two terms, I had even started to believe her. 

Colin took me on when I decided that, though I still wanted to study Russian, the particular joys reserved for single honours students – extra linguistics, the Lay of Prince Igor and the Memoirs of Prince Avakkum, these latter two to be read in Old Church Slavonic – were not for me. He found a place for me in his already crowded French group.

As I made the group an odd number, he also agreed to see me individually for tutorials. As I began to develop interests, and as they began to align themselves with his, he would occasionally let me set my own essay title. He even gave me a 10-year-old bottle of home-made white wine, which turned out to be the best sherry I had ever tasted. This, I decided, was what Oxford was about. 

So much so that, after a couple of terms, in the last tutorial before the vacation (it was a hollow joke to call them “holidays”) I diffidently mentioned that I had been thinking of a future in academia. 

Silence. 

If, at that stage, he had turned around and started an awful, mocking impersonation of a deranged simpleton, it would not have surprised me. Of course I had been fooling myself. I was, perhaps not hopeless, but very much an also-ran, and clearly a pretentious one at that.

Instead, he said, quite quietly, “Yes, well. I was thinking of giving you a scholarship, but you don’t work hard enough.”

In a flash, several truths became apparent to me. I was not an idiot; I was not delusional; and, most important of all, the age-old myth fell apart. At school, I had been effortlessly successful. Then I had come to Oxford and had been effortlessly mediocre. I had assumed that my dear old mum was right, that the bar ha been raised and I could no longer clear it. Instead, it turned out, no-one here was effortlessly anything. The people who succeeded did so because they were very bright, but because they also worked exceptionally hard. I started taking their lead. The following term, I worked harder than ever before or since (as well as acting, rowing, and writing at a “jolly good sport” sort of level) and got my mini-scholarship (or “exhibition” as they call it). I went on to narrowly miss a First and come out of that with enough confidence intact to go on to do research at Edinburgh. Without Colin’s quiet honesty, I’d have ended up pretending to want to be a school-teacher and wondering why I hated my life (I did that anyway, years later – but at least I had a go at what I wanted to be.) 

Ian was the last one. Believed by his Edinburgh undergraduates to have it in for English loafers, he nevertheless took on an Oxford graduate, to all appearances a dilettante (it took me about a term to tell him I was working twenty hours a week and that that was why I was a bit behind on the reading) who came armed only with an undergraduate dissertation on Daniel Pennac, an author almost no one had then heard of, apparently word-processed by a five-year-old, and of which Oxford’s examiners could not decide whether it was a work of genius or the ravings of an imbecile. 

Ian gave me the benefit of the doubt and, when he realised I was broke, did all he could to enable me to make some sort of a go of my doctorate. He sent me to France twice; he found me teaching hours (my poor undergraduates, I am so sorry you were lumbered with me); he got me published; and he let me stay round his house once so I could return from Nice to do a conference paper. He also took me lunchtime drinking at the Southsider. Ian made me believe that, not only could I become an academic, but that I could live as an academic, perhaps for my whole life. The question of what the hell I was going to do with this bizarre commodity called life was finally, and to my immense relief, solved

Of course, I went on to piss all that up the proverbial wall, but that was no fault of his. And I did come out of it speaking really rather good French …

So, if any of the five of you end up reading this, thank you. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Houston, TX is gaining one of the most kick-butt family’s that I have ever known.  We all love you…..

Jason and Nicole Reynolds

Alex Reynolds

Keep up with the Reynolds at their blogs:  Notice Nicole & Reynolds Family

Or if you need cutting edge pediatric/medical advice visit Dr. Jason Reynolds at the Smart Parents Blog.