My great-grandmother's oldest brother's name was King Philip. He used to sit up in church and say, " I'm right, because I'm OLD ENOUGH to be Right!!!" haha!

Sittin' Up In My Room

Brandy

Seems like ever since, the first day we met
There is no one else I think of more than you
Can't seem to forget, can't get you out my head
Cause the verdicts in I'm crazy over you
How can one be down, tell me where to start
Cause everytime you smile, I feel tremors in my heart
I have but one concern, how can I get with you
Til my day comes, here's what I'm gonna do.

Be sittin up in my room
Back here thinkin bout you
I must confess, I'm a mess for you
Be sittin up in my room
Back here thinkin bout you
I must confess, I'm a mess for you

Pray that you'll invest, in my happiness
All it takes is just one simple call from you
Turn my heart around, if I'm making ground
Pretty baby please, tell me if I'm getting through
Tell me what is up
You see I need to know
Tell if I'm far, or if I'm getting close
I have but one concern, and that one concern is you
Til I'm with you, here's what I'm gonna do

Be sittin up in my room
Back here thinkin bout you
I must confess, I'm a mess for you
Be sittin up in my room
Back here thinkin bout you
I must confess, I'm a mess for you

How can one be down, tell me where to start
Cause everytime you smile, I feel tremors in my heart
I have but one concern, how can i get with you
Til my day comes, here's what I'm gonna do

Be sittin up in my room
Back here thinkin bout you
I must confess, I'm a mess for you
Be sittin up in my room
Back here thinkin bout you
I must confess, I'm a mess for you

It Hurts Like Hell

Aretha

Oh baby
Oh oh babe
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh baby
Love was always supposed to be
Something wonderful to me
To watch it grow inside yourself
To feel your heart beside itself
Sometimes it hurts to love so bad
(When you know you've given all you can)
Sometimes it hurts to even laugh
(You do your best but it's still much too sad)
Sometimes the pain is just too much, oh oh
And it hurts like hell, that's the way it feels
True love, it has no hiding place
It's not something you just put away
It's always there inside of you
Oh, and it shows in everything you do
Sometimes it hurts to love so bad
(When you know you've given it your best)
Sometimes it hurts to even laugh
(You feel a thousand miles from happiness)
Sometimes the pain is just too much, oh oh oh
And it hurts like hell, that's the way it feels
Oh oh, oh oh
Here we are, the two of us
So full of love, so little trust
But dying for some tenderness
Ohh, but too afraid to take the step
Sometimes it hurts to love so bad
(When you know what it can put you through)
Sometimes it hurts to even laugh
(There's nothing funny if it's killing you)
Sometimes the pain is just too much
And it hurts like hell, that's the way it feels
I know if there is any chance
For us to find our happiness
We've got to learn to let it go
Ohh, forget all the pain we know
Sometimes it hurts to love so bad
(Sometimes it hurts so bad, baby)
Sometimes it hurts to even laugh
(Sometimes it hurts to even laugh, oh)
And it hurts like hell, that's the way
Oh baby, that's the way it feels
Yeah, yeah,
oh, yeah

Let It Flow--Toni Braxton

Toni Braxton

First thing monday morning
Im gonna pack my tears away
Got no cause to look back
Im lookin for me a better day
You see the thing bout love
Is that its not enough
If the only thing it brings you is pain
There comes a time when we could all make a
Change
Just let go
And let it flow, let it flow, let it flow
Everythings gonna work out right, yknow
Let go, and let it flow,
let it flow, let it flow
Just let it go
Dont nobody want no broke heart
And dont nobody want no two time losers
Aint nobody gonna love you like you are
If you take whatever he brings your way
You see the thing of it
Is we deserve respect
But we cant demand respect without change
There comes a time when we must go our own way
Just let go
And let it flow, let it flow, let it flow
Everythings gonna work out right, yknow
Let go, and let it flow, let it flow, let it flow
Just let it go
Sometimes love it can work out right
Sometimes youll never know
But if it brings only pain in your life
Dont be afraid to let it go

The Case of Lt. Watada

You can read about Lt. Watada, whose mother Carolyn Ho spoke here today, at this link.

Today I met Carolyn Ho, the mother of Lt. Watada, the lieutenant that is being court-martialed for refusing to go to Iraq. She is a very gracious lady and she gave a wonderful talk.

My cousin, the pulitzer prize nominated author and journalist Betty Deramus, did a wonderful interview with Maya Angelou. What an incredible experience that must have been to interview Dr. Angelou!

I saw The Devil Wears Prada tonight. Great film! I admire Miranda Priestley...and I love the values of this film! I also admire Anne Hathaway's character. I think they both ended up in the right place, in some sort.

Report on Chicago Budget Cuts and Their Fundamental Blow to Healthcare by Mildred Williamson

On the evening of Tuesday, January 23, 2007, I came early to the public hearing on the proposed Cook County Budget that was held at the Cook County Markham Courthouse. I was encouraged by the strong attendance and enthusiastic and determined crowd of participants. There were people in wheel chairs, and many walking with canes, in addition to the many ordinary workers just seeking to be heard and to participate in the meeting. The majority of the 1000+ people there could not participate in the democratic process because the room was much too small to accommodate all of those in attendance. There was no remote audio-visual transmittal of the proceedings, which prevented many people who had signed up in advance to speak, from even hearing their names to come forward. Needless to say, there was no way for the forthcoming speakers to hear what the other speakers were saying, in order to revise or further tailor their remarks to prevent redundancy. Most important, however, is that a potential "E2" situation was unfolding in that, the crowd became so large and so tightly packed together around a single staircase, in increasingly uncomfortable heat conditions, that were it not for the alertness of several Cook County officers and the fact that many in attendance were knowledgeable healthcare workers on public safety and injury prevention, serious problems could have occurred. As it was, I saw several people become overheated, faint, and many left just because they became frustrated about being packed in such close quarters, unable to hear or see the proceedings or, being unable to sit down anywhere for respite. Some people left in frustration, without providing their testimony. Even members of the press were disallowed into the meeting room until more than an hour had passed of deliberations. You and all of the other Commissioners had to know that attendance would be higher than usual due to the circumstances surrounding this budget proposal. A larger, disabled accessible, well-ventilated space should have been secured to accommodate all who wanted to participate, even for those whose sole desire was to just be there and listen. A small meeting space at this time, or at any time sends a message to the people that their participation is not welcome, and that their democratic rights mean nothing. For the record, I am deeply opposed to the proposed Cook County budget as presented, and I will say more about that at the next proposed hearing, to be sure. However, right now, I have the added burden of being ashamed at veteran elected officials for being so insensitive to the democratic process and the right of ordinary people to be respected and heard. From this point on - I plead with you to choose venues that respect the rights and needs of people to be heard and without user-unfriendly barriers of spaces too small, inadequate audio-visual assistance, no language translation, no sign language and too little consideration for those with mild to serious physical impairments. What happened last night was unacceptable and potentially dangerous from a public safety standpoint. It should never happen again.

Molly Ivins was our strength.

I Cried Real Tears Today

I cried real tears today over the death of Molly Ivins. She was one of our most valiant warriors. Someone I could look to whenever I felt the need to retreat or turn to cynicism. She was a powerful voice and one that constantly cut George Bush down to size. Why? Why?Why?

Jazz at the Boilermarket, great tonight. It made me think of Charles. Such wonderful, sweet memories.

The new ad by Iraq veterans against a troop increase is absolutely powerful and effective!

A conversation I had today started me to thinking about grade school. I always loved vocabulary words. I especially liked it when the teacher had us write sentences. I couldn't just write a sentence, I had to write the most dramatic sentence I could come up with.

What a Horrible Loss, Sidney Sheldon died at 89

Sidney Sheldon was a wonderful writer. I enjoyed several of his books, most especially Master of the Game. Wow, what a story that was! He was a great talent.

Iraq

Nixon ignored the people during the Vietnam War and said that he would not be swayed by public protest. Bush has said that he won't listen to Congress? Kings have been deposed and beheaded for less. I think it is time we start talking impeachement. Katrina alone ought to drive that man out of office.

Katrina and the Bush administration

The Bush administration will pay for the evil that it does.

Well, Hello Dolly!

Louis Armstrong, Barbra Streisand, and Gene Kelly.

They better leave Tyra Banks alone. She doesn't seem like one to mess with.

This adminstration is so stupid. How and why are they trying to start a war with Iran?

Global Warming

These people can keep arguing that there is no global warming, but when we all end up dead we will see.

I love that song "Dance With My Father," by Luther Vandross. Luther was a great spirit.

One thing I had been thinking about was that I have never been good at forming clubs. When I was in the fourth grade on, I would always start these clubs, but they never lasted for very long. Among them I started several writing circles(those were always fun), a gossip club, and the last I started a Bronte Society when I was in high school. I was totally something else. My writing circles went well, but my friend S got mad and the club disbanded because we appointed her secretary and kept telling her to "fax this."

I am an IFC junkie!

I love the film Le Divorce.

Four Women

Nina Simone

My skin is black
My arms are long
My hair is wooly
My back is strong
Strong enough to take the pain
It's been inflicted again and again
What do they call me
My name is AUNT SARAH
My name is Aunt Sarah

My skin is yellow
My hair is long
Between two worlds
I do belong
My father was rich and white
He forced my mother late one night
What do they call me
My name is SIFFRONIA
My name is Siffronia

My skin is tan
My hair is fine
My hips invite you
And my mouth like wine
Whose little girl am I?
Anyone who has money to buy
What do they call me
My name is Sweet Thing
My name is Sweet Thing

My skin is brown
My manner is tough
I'll kill the first mother I see
My life has been rough
I'm awfully bitter these days
because my parents were slaves
what do they call me
My
name
is
PEACHES!

See Line Woman

Nina Simone

yeah
yeah yeah
yeah yeah
alright ye
see-line woman
she drink coffee
she drink tea
and then go home
see-line woman
see-line woman
dressed in green
wears silk stockings
with golden seams
see-line woman
see-line woman
dressed in redmake a man lose his head
see-line womansee-line woman
black dress on
for a thousand dollars
she wail and she moan
see-line woman
wiggle wiggle
turn like a cat
wink at a man
and he wink back
now child
see-line woman
empty his pockets
and wreck his days
make him love her
and she'll fly away
see-line woman
take it on out now
empty his pockets
and she wreck his days
and she make him love her
then she sure fly away
she got a black dress on
for a thousand dollars
she wail and she moan...

Saga of Jenny

Kurt Weill

Jenny made her mind up when she was three
She herself was going to trim the Christmas tree
Christmas Eve she lit the candles, tossed the tapers away
Little Jenny was an orphan on Christmas day
Poor Jenny, bright as a penny
Her equal would be hard to find
She lost one dad and mother, a sister and a brother,
But she would make up her mind
Jenny made her mind up when she was twelve
That into foreign languages she would delve
But at seventeen to Vassar, it was quite a blow
That in twenty-seven languages she couldn't say no
Poor Jenny, bright as a penny
Her equal would be hard to find
To Jenny I'm beholden, her heart was big and golden
But she would make up her mind
Jenny made her mind up at twenty-two
To get herself a husband was the thing to do
She got herself all dolled up in her satins and furs
And she got herself a husband--but he wasn't hers
Poor Jenny, bright as a penny
Her equal would be hard to find
Deserved a bed of roses, but history discloses
That she would make up her mind
Jenny made her mind up at fifty-one
She would write her memoirs before she was done
The very day her book was published, history relates,
There were wives who shot their husbands in some thirty-three states
Jenny made her mind up at seventy-five
She would live to be the oldest woman alive
But gin and rum and destiny play funny tricks,
And poor Jenny kicked the bucket at seventy-six
Jenny points a moral with which you cannot quarrel,
Makes a lot of common sense--Jenny and her saga prove that you're gaga
If you don't keep sitting on the fence
Jenny and her story point the way to glory
To all man and womankind
Anyone with vision comes to this decision--
Don't make up your mind

I just finished Mutter Courage. Now that I have finished it, I do realize that I have seen it acted out on television.