Are We The Only Ones Who Wear Huge Jewelry??

I've watched Katt, and recently Xzibit, on various talk show programs and I am really bothered by the jewelry questions. Are Black people the only race who buy big, gaudy trinkets that require several minutes of awe from the likes of Howard Stern, Conan O'Brien and Craig Ferguson? I do try to look around and it seems really wealthy and/or the street wanna bes are the majority of Black males I see with a cross bigger than Jesus himself practically. Now, if I recall right... Jesus carried and died on a wooden cross. How come I don't see a single person with that around his/her neck?? Do the diamonds, platinum and whatever other materials they are made up of carry more significance than the wood?? Does it solidify the belief? Why do we need to wear trinkets to remember Jesus Christ's life/death... at all!?!? Ok, this might require another Blog post at a later date. Next............

Back to the jewelry and it's size. Howard Stern spent so much time on Katt's jewelry that I was about to just leave the room. Each visit Stern seems to have never seen anyone else with that much jewelry on in his entire life as a interviewer but as a person as well. It's oooooooooooo k Howard. And then, Craig asked Mr Joiner how can he get a watch like the one he was wearing. Hellooooo... you take your arse to a jeweler and buy it. What part of that did you miss along the way to your nice lil rise to the top. Just like a house, a car and anything else... you make the money to be able to afford it. I'm just not understanding because.......... do you ask other guest this question as if they should just say 'oh, here... you can have this one?' while taking it off and handing to over to you?!?!?

I don't want to seem like I'm being racially incorrect because Sherry on The View asked Katt about his jewelry too. And for those who do not watch the view, she's Black as well. I'm just befuddled as to why the question needs ot be asked?!?!?!

'I Lie To Myself In The Mirror Everyday'

Another reason to quote Katt I don't need buuuuuuuuuut... that line just works, for me at least. Feeling good in this 'mentally recessive' time. I get up in the morning saying things like 'girl, did that SUV come get it's spare tire yet?', 'did your hair grow down your back?' and/or 'wow, you are stunning that t-shirt'. Hey, whatever works... SAY IT. Why? Because there are so many realities that you can't lie about which can you leave you crying in your bed that you don't want to get out of it, just because. If you go with the thought process of starting the day off right by thinking AND acting in the positive, maybe the day will be... more... positive. The elements of the earth and your being in it are at your will. Yes, I saw THAT dvd and am a firm believer in all things are of the higher realm.

So, what 'lie' did you tell you to get your day on a more productive beginning?

50 Year Young Prince

As you might know (or might not but about to find out now), Prince Rogers Nelson has been my artist for life since the album one. Yes, I did managed to hold on to that vinyl as well as a couple more albums from this man when the rest were stolen. Prince turned 50 last month and he still has it going ONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!! He's on

AND

which are no doubt both very fitting and well deserved. My Mom handed me Ebony and I took of running while she laughed. She knows how I am on that man, the most prolific artist of my lifetime. I've seen him live well over 40 times, I'm still trying to finish 'Interactive' - the game and I have an awesome collection of live shows across from across the globe. I'm hoping someone would like to gift me this book written by THE MAN entitled 21 Nights. ANYONE?? My birthday is October, it'd make a really, really, really nice gift. (no laugh)

Beautiful Hair, Beautiful Me

As I looked at Michael's (from the last post) photo of what I think is him, I realize how much I LOVE hair. I've been a hair freak... wait, let me be kinder with that... I've been into hair since... who knows when. The more naptural, the better as for hairstyles. But I love body hair on men too. I love a well groomed man with a beard, sideburns, a goatee and/or even a simple mustache. Just keep it neat is all I ask. I know razor bumps/acne can have adverse affects on the male skin and I sympathize with those who suffer from this. I'm not one who can recommend anything for someone I don't know but Dudu Osun (African black soap) and/or See Breeze are the absolute best for me. If I could just stop drinking sodas and eating chocolate I'd have the face teens would envy at my age. Annnnnnnnnnd... that won't happen anytime soon, so... bumps away with my 2 recommendations is all I can do for now. Did I say I love chest hair and arm/leg hair on men?? I mean, I don't turn a guy down if he's treating me to dinner if he has no body hair what-so-eveeeeer. But... if he does... let's just say it'll be real hard to get though a meal sitting next to him. (CUL) Now, am I that bad you ask? I don't lie on myself... OK? (snickers in thought)

Back to my hair affliction... I also love long hair on men. My poor nephew is beating me out of his curly long sides. I think he's so adorable right now... when he's sleep. (laughs) Anyhow, my hair is so long, I think if I permed it out I'd have just past shoulder length again. I've always sported lengthy hair for ponytail purposes no doubt. The only time it's been short was when I decided to go BLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEACH blonde. I just knew the honey cocoa brown skin was going to look good with white gold hair. This was back in the 90's and not one soul told me how very important moisture was to straw. Yes, it was that light. Soooooooooo... needless to say after a few months, I saw hair just dropping in the sink and filling up the comb. My stylist Edie said, "sorry Di, we've got to cut it down in order for it to grow as I had here and there chunks that were short and then some that were shorter. I was mortified as I'd had long hair past my shoulders or so since I was a lil girl. Chop chop it went and I ended up with a pretty blonde top mix with the black sides and back to the neck. I thought it was so cute... that is until I came home with 4 different sized curling irons. One iron barrel was the size of an ink pen's ink barrel - no lie.

I burned the hell out of my scalp for months as it grew from a 4 barrel do to a one barrel style. Never again was I cutting my hair once it was on my shoulders again. And that lasted til 2001 when I decided I wanted twists. Get to the stylist and she tells me I need to get the perm out in order for it to twist properly and then lock. "Lock"???? WHAT?? So, I had to research this "lock" and when I did I was like OOOOOOOOOOOOOH HELLLLLLLLLLLL NOOOOOOOOOOO. (laughs hard) I decided to stick with twists and go from there. So, she cut ALLLLLLLLLLL my hair off and I had about an inch that was twistable by using a "rats tail comb". After she finished, I had all these lil curls on my head and the air hit it hard. I was sneezing my scalp was so exposed. I've never looked back as I still have twists today. Needless to say, they are done by hand because that original comb would be downright comical to use now. I want someone else to do them to see how they turn out. Me, I'm just grabbing no parting and twisting away. Gives home grown an all new meaning, ya think?

What's my hair care regimen? I started on anything I could afford at first, then Carol's Daughter (thanks to actor Gary Dourdan) products came next. I was enthusiastically hooked even going as far as reading what Jada Pinkett-Smith and Mary J used and then combining their recipes. One bad order gone wrong too many times led me to the ORS products - Organic Root Stimulator. I absolutely LOVE the Hair Mayonnaise (mixed with an egg) after using the Uplift Shampoo. I now and again top it off by using the Replenishing Pack for an hour or more of conditioning and then twist it with either the Olive Oil in the jar or the Carrot Oil Creme (jar). I rotate them when I can afford to buy both as they both are soft on the hair. People always admire how soft my hair is for one who does it at home. I pride myself on attempting to manage it despite the aching arms from the de-tangling process - arrrggggggggggghhhh and the upwards of 4 hours from shampoo to last twist. Mind you, it's still not dry which is a naptural process. I wish ORS people would update their website and be responsive to emails. Still, I love the product and thankfully I can find it on more shelves now that I could when I first started using it. I try to keep it all in the family as you see as it just works better for me when all said and done.

So hair today not gone tomorrow I pray. If I were to ever lose my length again... I dunno. The reason I did not want "locks" (short for dreadlocks) is because to change to a straight style, you have to cut the locks out. Yes, depending on the roots length, I'd be almost bald again. NOOOOOOOOOOT! With twists, I can break out a curling iron (yes, I've tried and failed) and get a semi straight look for oooooooh about an hour. (laughs on the way out)

Where in the world is Di??

Here me isssssssssssssssssssssss. (laughs) I know, I have not Blogged-in since what seems a mighty long time going on previous posts. I started one yesterday and I just realized I could go back and add on to it. Oh what the heck, I might as well continue here. If you haven't noticed, I added David Duchovny's Blog (over to the left there) because it fascinates me people of his magnitude have time... THAT MUCH... to think much less type. It's all in lower case and he even takes time to explain why. WOOOOOOW. I love it when the celebrated ones talk to us when they can. I'd rather have that than an autograph any day. I can remember words to conversations very well like words to songs but where a piece of paper is?!?! Oh no, just forgetaboutit. (haahaaaaaahhhhhhhhha)

And Ms. Bloggetto (Ghetto Blogger) has stumbled on a very provoking of the thoughts on race and it's matters. I'm not going to say any more... just drop the link. Race Matters by Michael Datcher

Ok, I said I was not going to say any more but that was in regards to the link ONLY. You know darned well I have more to say. I think I talk in my sleep but since I'm single I can't verify this and lucky for me, neither can you. Prentis said he'll never tell. (CUL) So what's been up with me? Well, I've been a weee busy offline like traveling, continuing to nurse Prentis back to better health (so far so good until 3 today - arrrrgggghhhhhhhhhhh), trying to be a very patient Ant (vs. Aunt) to a gadget driven nephew from the umbilical cord (arrrgghhhhh the terrible 10's) and just still trying my damndest to enjoy life. Whenever I attempt to think I'm having it rough, I can watch the opening of the news every single day and get a hellavah reminder how blessed I truly am no matter. I'm still working on the passport/get out of MD for good?? issue believe you me. Other than that... still saying my prayers to the One Most High for everything. Even the pimples I'm getting at THIS age in my ears and my hairline and my back and my.......................................

Make today a splendid day, hear me??

When life give you lemons, make lemonade... dangit

And be sure to add lots of sugar (patience). While traveled across town the muffler fell off the car. So I pulled over and said what every women says... "oh shyt!". While meditating, a nice gentleman got out of his car and tried to help. He used some old rubber found on the ground but it was not long enough to hold the heavy muffler in place. Of course I had no wire hangers in the car as I hate them from my childhood. Anyhow he left and I pulled under the over pass near some not so grassy area and meditated some more. Finally, I get out and looked around on the ground for something else to use since I'd searched the entire car already... even the armrest. :p

Suddenly I found a piece of hose (tubing) which was quite long. I put that on after I cleaned it off. Hey, I'm semi-germaphobic, ok? Anyhow, I looked down and saw a piece of very rusted wire 3 - 4 coat hangers thick and proceeded to clean it off too. Funny the Dr. today asked me about a tetanus shot. Hmmmmmmmmm... Onwards......... I took the hose back off and decided to thread the wire inside of the hose to make it sturdier since I had no strength to tie the wire to the pipes I needed. Since the hose was much longer I tied it into 3 knots and managed to make it over 30 more miles to my destination. It was a loud ride but safer under speeds of 50 mph. Not only was the traffic flow on my side but so was GOD.

I really believe there were several Angels watching over me. But even if it was just one... one was all I needed and am every blessed for him/her.

2 Bees From Oakland - 'Realimentary'

Not since Moms Mabley have I been impressed by the female comedians of my era and forward. I found some grand at what they are supposed to do but none have made me cry AND laugh like she did. I would choke as a child listening to her talk about her old husband and the great racial divide of that time period. Yes, I said "listening" because it was that long ago that as a Black female comedian she was not allowed on TV for many reasons. Color was just one of them. Her mouth was more raw than any man I can name today. If there were televised episodes of her, it was more likely the few movies she managed to get into during the speckled life she led.

So, today I was on You Tube and somehow landed on '2 Bees From Oakland'. I went to their channel there to see a total of 3 videos and literally fell off a queen sized bed laughing so hard. It's Miss Laura with her "homegirl" Luenell and their "one eyed therapist" view on everything. Like Katt says "evvvvvvverrrrrrrrythang" - seriously. I don't smoke weed, never have but that skit was too friggin' HAHlarious. So, without more chitter chatter, let's get to the subject matter.

2 Bees From Oakland's Official Website & 2 Bees From Oakland's YouTube Channel

DISCLAIMER - the links above contain RAW and very real yet EXPLICIT content. If you leave here to visit these links, you are on your own. DO NOT FORGET HOW TO READ ALL OF A SUDDEN. You have been warned!!

Bikram Yoga (or Hot Yoga)

Heard of it? Know anyone who uses this method of cleansing/weight loss/meditation? Read more here and pass me your thoughts. If you're menopausal, please leave insight on it if you weren't "hot" already. SMILES!!

I Love Being Black - William 'Smokey' Robinson

"I love being Black. I love being called Black. I love being an American. I love being a Black American, but as a Black man in this country I think it’s a shame that every few years we get a change of name.

Since those first ships arrived here from Africa that came across the sea there were already Black men in this country who were free. And as for those that came over here on those terrible boats, they were called niggah and slave and told what to do and how to behave.

And then master started trippin' and doing his midnight tippin', down to the slave shacks where he forced he and Great-Great Grandma to be together, and if Great-Great Grandpa protested, he got tarred and feathered.

And at the same time, the Black men in the country who were free, were mating with the tribes like the Apache and the Cherokee. And as a result of all that, we're a parade of every shade. And as in this late day and age, you can be sure, they ain't too many of us in this country whose bloodline is pure.

But, according to a geological, geographical, genealogy study published in Time Magazine, the Black African people were the first on the scene, so for what it's worth, the Black African people were the first on earth and through migration, our characteristics started to change, and rearrange, to adapt to whatever climate we migrated to. And that's how I became me, and you became you.

So, if we gonna go back, let's go all the way back, and if Adam was Black and Eve was Black, then that kind of makes it a natural fact that everybody in America is an African American.

Everybody in Europe is an African European; everybody in the Orient is an African Asian and so on and so on, that is, if the origin of man is what we’re gonna go on. And if one drop of Black blood makes you Black like they say, then everybody's Black anyway.

So quit trying to change my identity. I'm already who I was meant to be I'm a Black American, born and raised. And brother James Brown wrote a wonderful phrase, "Say it loud, I'm Black and I'm proud! Say it loud, I'm Black and I'm proud!"

Cause I'm proud to be Black and I ain't never lived in Africa, and ‘cause my Great-Great Granddaddy on my Daddy’s side did, don't mean I want to go back. Now I have nothing against Africa, it's where some of the most beautiful places and people in the world are found. But I've been blessed to go a lot of places in this world, and if you ask me where I choose to live, I pick America, hands down.

Now, by and by, we were called Negroes, and after while, that name has vanished. Anyway, Negro is just how you say “black” in Spanish. Then, we were called colored, but shit, everybody’s one color or another, and I think it’s a shame that we hold that against each other.

And it seems like we reverted back to a time when being called Black was an insult, even if it was another Black man who said it, a fight would result, cause we’ve been so brainwashed that Black was wrong, so that even the yellow niggahs and black niggahs couldn’t get along.

But then, came the 1960s when we struggled and died to be called equal and Black, and we walked with pride with our heads held high and our shoulders pushed back, and Black was beautiful.

But, I guess that wasn’t good enough, cause now here they come with some other stuff. Who comes up with this shit anyway? Was it one, or a group of niggahs sitting around one day?

Feelin’ a little insecure again about being called Black and decided that African American sounded a little more exotic. Well, I think you were being a little more neurotic.

It’s that same mentality that got “Amos and Andy” put off the air, cause’ they were embarrassed about the way the character’s spoke. And as a result of that action, a lot of wonderful Black actors ended up broke. When we were just laughin’ and have fun about ourselves. So I say, “fuck you if you can’t take a joke.” You didn’t see the “Beverly Hillbilly’s” being protested by white folks.

And if you think, that cause you think that being called African American set all Black people’s mind at ease… since we affectionately call each other “niggah”, I affectionately say to you, “niggah please”.

How come I didn’t get the chance to vote on who I’d like to be? Who gave you the right to make that decision for me? I ain’t under your rule or in your dominion and I am entitled to my own opinion.

Now there are some African Americans here, but they recently moved here from places like Kenya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Zaire. But, now the brother who’s family has lived in the country for generations, occupying space in all the locations New York, Miami, L.A., Detroit, Chicago - even if he’s wearing a dashiki and sporting an afro.

And, if you go to Africa in search of your race, you’ll find out quick you’re not an African American, you’re just a Black American in Africa takin’ up space.

Why you keep trying to attach yourself to a continent, where if you got the chance and you went, most people there would even claim you as one of them; as a pure bread daughter or son of them. Your heritage is right here now, no matter what you call yourself or what you say and a lot of people died to make it that way. And if you think America is a leader on inequality and suffering and grievin’ how come there so many people comin’ and so few leavin’?

Rather than all this ‘find fault with America’ fuck you promotin’, if you want to change something, use your privilege, get to the polls! Commence to votin’!

God knows we’ve earned the right to be called American Americans and be free at last. And rather than you movin’ forward progress, you dwelling in the past. We’ve struggled too long; we’ve come too far. Instead of focusing on who we were, let’s be proud of who we are.

We are the only people whose name is always a trend. When is this shit gonna end? Look at all the different colors of our skin - Black is not our color. It’s our core. It’s what we been livin’ and fightin’ and dyin’ for.

But if you choose to be called African American and that’s your preference then I'll give you that reference

But I know on this issue I don’t stand alone on my own and if I do, then let me be me and I’d appreciate it if when you see me, you’d say, “there goes a man who says it loud I’m Black. I’m Black. I’m a Black American, and I’m proud

Cause I love being an American. And I love being Black. I love being called Black. Yeah, I said it, and I don’t take it back."

Smokey Robinson
Def Poets, 3rd Season - May 16, 2003

Katt in DC - 5th Row Was The SHHHHHHHHHYT!!

(No photos as I was at the first of two shows that night and there was no Bentley either CUL)

Let me tell you right now, never see an event in the DAR (Constitution Hall, DC) any closer the 5th row. You're either gonna only see the top of the person's head or look straight at the stage edge - possibly a crotch. Not cute. Every time someone called the floor a rest spot for a joke, they almost disappeared. Thanks to to huge screens each side of the stage, I never missed a beat. I hear the Katt Williams concerts last night, yes both shows, were being filmed. I have no clue why but I hope that huge camera I saw to the right of me loads of times got my good side, if there was ever one. (Laughs) Anyhow, prior to going in the building I stood out side for a few...

1) because I had already heard/read about the opening acts being rap artist and I'm not into rap.

2) I wanted to get a feel how the crowd's vibe was.

While minding my own, a couple of older than me ladies were coming up the stairs. The one asked what the area was and I replied. She asked me had the show started and I told her not yet and that I only see 1 bus as opposed to the 3 I heard about the day before. She told me "they said he went to Ben's today". (Ben's is a popular chili place in DC having people like Bill Cosby and more to tout as guests. Nope, never ate nor been there). I tell you this... if Katt ever needs new material, stand outside of an event prior to the show. Man, it was OFF the meter out there. I saw a female wearing a coat zipped to the neck with thick scarf and then.. flip flops. WTF?? And someone else got into a baby daddy cell phone argument so loud, the people on the ground level were looking up. Trust me, the humor was out there in full effect. I'm a Marylander, so I'm not claiming them. (laughs)

I finally decided to go in and from the level I entered on, I was right at my seat - sweeeeeeet!! 5th friggin' ROW!! Not thats some Prince shyt hear me. I purchased my ticket right before he was being announced on The View yesterday. I swear I would have muffed up my transaction had that part of the show came on ANY earlier. No lie. I halled (like he did when he was acting out his child running) to get to the tv, laptop in both hands. (CUL) Anyhow, Klutch was on and he was ok and then XL (Xplicit Lyric) was next. She's smaller than she looks in her photos. (I damned sure gotta lose a few pounds now that I've seen how that worked out for her) She was pretty good and seemed to have got the crowd in a good mood.

D'Militant (sp??) was the MC of those show and he had his own comedic words in between everything. Simply Cookie and Leslie were side splitting funny as heck. I near cried on both of those ladies sets. Leslie torn into the first row - badly. You should have seen how nervous I was when she said something like 'I'm going down here to where the people paid good money...'. I was like ohhhh noooooo but luckily I was saved. I think that huge bodyguard is truly necessary because she gets IN people's faces and ears. That poor girl she last slammed, I wanted to see what pants she had on. I saw some gold lamé capris entering and wondered if she was the one sporting them after the "disco"/Donna Summer comments Leslie made. Between the three comic openers, they were the show for me. Unfortunately I had YouTubed KW's stuff and already knew about half of his set.

Here we go ya'll. Out of the left side comes the Katt. He tossed his nice hat in the air and some HUGE (tall and weight - ok, larger than me alright?) guy caught it who was one row in front and one seat to the left - DARN IT. So into his routine he goes starting on the huge DC painting right behind him letting us know that it was the only thing in DC that looked like that. Everything else looked like - he points to the crowd yelling "ya'll". Hmmm.... is that a good or bad reference. (laughs) He does his skit fine with no interruptions to really deviate his attention until... he's doing the part I wanted to hear the MOST. He was talking about the Flavor Flav Roast and how pissed he was the entire show. (if you saw it you'd understand. I saw it late last year wondering WHILE watching why Katt looked so pissed and now I know) So as he is talking some chick wearing a pinkish something decided to yell some crazed mess from the upper right balcony level. He stopped and told everyone that his baby mom's was there going into how you ignore her in the club while giving her that "I got TRO papers on you" look. Funnnnnnnnnnnnnny. So ole girl keeps going and he turns his back to keep his "peripheral from being distracted". "Before I say something I shouldn't like sit down b*tch and shut the f*** up" follwed and you knew he'd been there and done that before. I'm wondering if they pay people to act up because almost every show I've read about, there is ALWAYS a heckler. His set was quiet as crap to me so much that... I thought I was at an opera for a second for serious. People barely laughed and I chalked it up as they'd rather listen than laugh. Hopefully not that... OTHER... reason since there were 2 - 3 means of laughter prior to him?!?!

Soooooooo... the other joke I wanted to hear, the motorcycle stint, was the last joke of the night. Katt had sweat on him so thick, his hair was that of someone getting out of the shower - right then. I hope he lets his hair grow long again (for a pony tail) because him pushing it back so much when it won't stay seems bothersome. He spends way too much obvious time fixing the hair that just won't fix. He never used his towel nor did he get to sip his drink. I still say he should have a cordLESS mic but he seems to have been working with it so long, it never gets in the way. I also think he should refrain from actually naming his child during his set. It will call for people who do not know him to come up and ask him about the child when it's part of the joke evenif it's REAL life. And we know how people can try to get all up in your business.

Shows over and I'm walking out listening to the crowd. Some thought his females were funnier and this has been said since this tour started by a few attendees. That's cool and all because if it weren't for the tour, we might not have seen these acts at all. Ok, I might not have. Overall, $$ well spent because the seats were soooooooooooo great. I did go over to check the fan fare merch and was not moved to buy anything. One thing that did catch my eye was his new comedy/rap CD. I couldn't believe It's Pimpin' Pimpin' was going for $20 - there too. Huffpuffpassssssssssssssssssssss.........