It's Christmas

CHRISTMAS IS UPON US!

Same as it was last year
And so I’m wishing many things
For the folks whom I hold dear

I wish you many blessings
And all the joy it brings
Good health and abundance
All of the essential things

I wish for peace throughout the land
Of course an end to hate
Universal respect for life
And all the things that make us great.

I wish that we would recognize
The things that man has done
Appreciate the gifts that God has given everyone.

I wish that there is no more war
And no more loss of life
And no more violent conflicts
Causing misery and strife.

Peace on earth, good will to men
We say these words time and again
With peach and love my protocol
This wish I make includes us all.

MY ABUNDANCE

SUCCESS COMES IN MANY WAYS

Most of us get up and go to work five days a week. You set the alarm for 7:30 a.m. (if you have kids who go to school you get up earlier), brush your teeth, take a shower and get dressed. Maybe you have to make breakfast for the family before dropping the kids off to school, or just a coffee for yourself that you halfway drink on your way out the door.

Many of you are fortunate enough to have a job that you like. Many of you are stressfully waiting to retire so you can finally be happy and free. But when the time comes, are you healthy and wealthy enough to enjoy “the rest of your life”.

In my family, my brother, sister and I are the first generation where all siblings lived long enough to retire. My dad died at 61, several of my aunts and uncles died even younger and several of my friends didn’t reach 65.

WHY??? I believe they all worked themselves to death. Most had jobs they didn’t like. All had stress related diseases and all worked “hard for the money” believing that they could save up enough or earn enough social security credit to have a comfortable and free retirement. NOT SO!

We grow up being taught we have to work hard to be successful. We are usually not taught to consider turning something we love into a source of income. We take on jobs just for the money and eventually suffer all kinds of burnout before getting anywhere close to retirement age.

In my mind, the most important thing in life is to be happy and it’s not necessarily connected to how much money you have, what you possess or how high you rise on the corporate ladder… My entire life I have been blessed with family and friends who love me and who I love dearly. I have everything I want in life and I will admit that I have been blessed abundantly in every way. Why? Because I choose to be happy and accept the abundance of the universe that comes along with my joy.

I wish you all happiness and love and hope that you never retire. Open your mind and heart to the abundance of the universe and join me in an infinity of joy!

JAZZ INTHE JUNGLE UPDATE

Thanks so much to all of our subscribers! We are so happy to announce that the first project in our Jazz in the Jungle venue has begun. This week we celebrate our third month anniversary of  the "Fat Tuesday" live jazz event in Mismaloya.

It's been a long time since I've been able to post, but thanks to my BFF Love Newkirk, my new high-tech laptop has arrived and I am further able to edit videos. So here's a little from our very first rehearsal. Keep watching for the next post which will include live performances, horseback riding, SCUBA diving videos and more!

Entire concert videos will only be available to Patreon subscribers. Thank you immensely for your patience and support!!!

Please remember to like the video and comment.

First Jazz in the Jungle rehearsal with Empress and the Crown Jewels

PARADISE

Living in paradise is not something easy to describe. Of course, the sun is "always" shinning. The sky is "always blue". The water is "always" warm and everything is "always" green and full of wonderful blossoms.

What is indescribable is the serenity and the mystical peace you feel from detaching from the pressures and belief's that you've lived with all of your life. The beliefs that taught you to strive for someone else until you're 65, self-oppression and fear of success. 

Living in paradise is making the decision to let go and open yourself to the abundance and blessings of the universe.

Recognize that the entire world is yours. You can live anywhere on the planet. We have chosen Mexico and many of our family, friends and acquaintances have followed our lead.

Come spend a little time with us in paradise and discover the real you!

WE'VE ONLY JUST BEGUN

Success - See your goal; Understand the obstacles; Create a positive mental picture; Clear your mind of self doubt; Embrace the challenge; Stay on track; Show the world you can do it! — Sayings

Life is meant to be enjoyed and that has been the focus of every moment from the day I met Rey. Since arriving in Mexico, Rey and I have been inspired to reinvent ourselves and enjoy and create new adventures. We are calling out to the universe in every waking (and sleeping😁) moment, and the universe is answering by making our dreams come true. The most exciting thing is, the more inspired we are, the more adventures we seek and the more we stretch and grow.

Learning about abundance and the law of attraction has opened me to exploring endless opportunities and learning more about myself. I'm freeing myself from doubt, inhibitions and constant worry about every little thing. I am a work of art in progress. I've stepped out of my comfort zone. A dedicated shift in lifestyle has brought about many changes and improved my life in many ways.  I'm so glad you've subscribed to my Patreon page so I can share the blow by blow with you!

Several years ago Rey and I started this Patreon page describing our plans for the future and asking for your help to achieve our goal of purchasing a property to establish our dream business. We are grateful to those of you believed in us and supported us with your monthly subscriptions and encouraging comments. Now it's time for us to share our accomplishments and fulfill our promises to you.

After 3 years of focusing on manifesting our dreams we acquired this wonderful property where we will present "Jazz in the Jungle". In this video I talk about the first steps of our plan. As promised the subsequent videos (available to members only) will take you on the journey with us and encourage, energize and inspire you!

Destiny is not a matter of chance – it’s a matter of choice! William Jennings Bryan

Facebook is an addiction. I spend a lot of time posting and communicating with my friends. My FB friends post so much that I often miss birthdays, event’s, requests for help…

This week FB sent me a memory in the form of a news paper article I posted when still living in Las Vegas. Rey took me to a wonderful “Pho” restaurant where a news reporter sitting at another table was attentively eyeing us.

She was writing a series of articles about people in love and how they nurture their relationship for her Valentines’ day series. Intrigued by the intensity of our focus, she asked if she could write a story about us. It was our first date.

“I manifested her into my life” Rey explained. “I told the universe what kind of woman I wanted.  A woman who would make me smile when I look at her, smile when I think about her and miss her when she’s gone. I recognized her as soon as I saw her.”

During that 2016 interview Rey informed the reporter that we would get married in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. I was completely tickled by this fast track, extremely interesting and over confident superman. Within two years of committing ourselves to one another we arrived in Puerto Vallarta. The funny thing is it was my decision and my choice. Until I read the article on a FB memory post, I didn’t even remember Rey talking about getting married in Puerto Vallarta. I guess marriage was not on my mind.

I’ve lived a happy and successful life without thinking about manifesting anything. The word was just not in my vocabulary. Now I know the word and I know what it means. Through Rey I’m learning how to appreciate and use my power, and to manifest everything I want in life.

              

Our Patreon supporters and many of our FB friends know when we started this page 3 years ago we tried to buy a wonderful piece of property we found in Mismaloya. It was perfectly suitable for a jazz venue and AirBnb rental. We posted pictures and told you about our ideas. We failed to find investors and were unable to acquire the property. I was very disappointed.

Rey remained optomistic. The property was not far from where we were living. It’s in the center of town so we’d pass it every time we went to the grocery store, dine in the neighborhood or drive up to Kawitu or El Eden. Every time we passed by the property Rey would say “That’s our house. We are going to buy it.” I would passively agree while wishing and hoping all the time that it could really happen.

In the meantime, we moved into a fabulous Mexican style Casa with a huge garden and ocean view. I loved this house and thought we would never move. However, one day, out of the blue the owner of our dream house called and asked if we were still interested in the property.

Yesterday, March 1^st, 2022 we moved into our new 4 bed/4bath duplex home. The same home Rey decided would be ours three years ago. The same home I’d been wishing and hoping for, for three years. Again for the umpteenth time Rey told me “You see. This is how you manifest. I can tell you and I can show you. I have power, you have power and together we will manifest everything we want in life!

  

We are here developing this space which will house our home and business. We're excited about the future and looking forward to welcoming you to join us as we grow and MANIFEST!

Like our page and subscribe!

 

WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU KNEW YOU COULD NOT FAIL?

If you could do something and be guaranteed not to fail what would it be? I've lived most of my life thinking about what I had do to keep a roof over my head and food in my stomach. My decisions where made based on the education that reinforced what my parents taught me at home.

My parents were conflicted on this topic. My mother always encouraged me to get a good education that would guarantee me a good job. She did everything in her power to make sure my siblings and I went to good “public” schools as she tried to provide us with everything the American dream professed. She was thrifty (most of the time) and often trying to improve her marketable skill set by learning something new like stenography or astrology.

My parents encouraged me to think about my future at an early age. I wanted to be a singer – a musician like my father – an entertainer. That was a no no! Mom and I would sit at the kitchen table after dinner and she would show me the bills she was not able to pay. “You will always be broke” mom would tell me. “Your father doesn't make enough money. That's why I have to work and we always have to struggle.” I was convinced it was because my father was a musician. What a disappointment for me to learn that I could never successfully fulfill my dream.

My father was an entrepreneur. He believed in being his own boss. He had his own tailor shop where he made men's suits and repaired clothing in addition to his occasional weekend music jobs. My father would often tell me I would grow up to be a nurse or a teacher because of the compassion for other people he thought he saw in me. He died before his tailoring business became successful.

In my heart I believed my father was a successful musician. He was a super good saxophonist. He played alto and tenor sax and flute. I loved to go to gigs with him. The highlight of my year was hearing him play in the Carribean parade on Labor Day. It was the best band in the parade. My father sat at the pinnacle of the pyramid playing his sax as the float barely moved down the street, blocked by the people dancing and jumping up around it. I really wanted to be a musician! Although my mother was very much against it, my father did encourage me. He often said “if you want to see the world - be a musician!

Knowing that I was embarking on a future of predictable poverty, I made my choice. I left home at the age of 18, partially because I wanted to become a musician and partially because of some nightmarish things I was experiencing at home. That's another story.

After leaving home I chose to continue my college education. I became a teacher before I graduated and eventually ensconced myself in the corporate world mostly with technology based jobs. My mom was always proud of me no matter what my choices were. Every success I had confirmed that she would never have to worry about her daughter being able to take care of herself. Teaching school, becoming a drug rehabilitation counselor, a legal secretary, a corporate administrator and eventually the founder/owner of a computer business on Park Avenue in New York City – all jobs representing security and success made my mother proud!

I was financially successful but never really happy. My truly enjoyable times where participating in community theater and eventually landing supporting roles in off-Broadway musicals or bit parts on t.v. soap operas. But these were just side jobs. I never imagined that I could live from the work I loved. Fear of failure encompassed my very soul and for years I avoided the challenge of my dream. Better to be an underpaid employee of some exploitative company than a poor musician.

After 20+ years of doing extremely “challenging” jobs that did not satisfy my soul, I gave up the corporate life and became an actress/singer. My mom was visibly dismayed when I sold my computer business. She worried, and although she was proud of the successes I had as an entertainer, she would often ask me “when are you going to get a real job?” It didn't make her worry any less, and it didn't make her any less proud of me. She only wanted to see me financially successful.

In the beginning I was criticized by many and loved by few. I was constantly compared to my singing colleagues and told that they were better than me. Even on her death bed (30 years later) my mother stipulated that I was not to be allowed to sing at her funeral. My family made it clear that they would adhere to her wish, and they did. 

I was 35 before I had my first professional performance and 42 before I went on my first tour. I was in my 50's when my mother finally accepted that I had chosen to follow my dream. It took me many years to realize that the pursuit of a dream isn’t something you need to justify to others. My success is in the joyful life I've lived challenging myself. 

So I ask “what would you do if you could not fail?” and recognize that there is no such thing as challenge or success without the possibility of failure. If we eliminate the fear of failure, we eliminate the pride and esteem that comes from success. I have failed many times and I have had many successes. And most importantly, I am proud of myself!!!

WHY I CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS

It's Christmas time again and as always the question is why, as an African American descendant should I celebrate? My answer to that is I do, and we should! 

As a child I was caught up in the fantasy believing that some gray bearded, fat white man in a red suit sneaked into our house – even though we didn't have a chimney - and put presents under the tree. My mom was completely into this tradition. My father seemed to just go along with the program. 

It was clearly a blessing when we were “old enough” for them to release us from the fantasy. So what is the truth about Christmas? What does it really mean – TO ME? 

There are many controversial questions about the birth of Christ and the religious significance of the celebration. I don't care about that. The history of the suffering of our enslaved ancestors is my focus. It speaks to the fact that slaves were no less burdened and abused during the Christmas season than any other time of year. His-story makes it seem like slaves enjoyed the Christmas holiday as much as the master did. Like Santa Claus, visions of Christmas joy and freedom where truly fantasies and the fight for survival was no less diminished. 

Enslaved African Americans did not view the holidays as a time of celebration and hope. Rather, Christmas served only to highlight their lack of freedom - and presented an opportunity for escape which many slaves took advantage of. Christmas wasn't a time of fun and relaxation for slaves. They did all the grueling household and field labor that kept these places going, sleeping and cooking in primitive cabins and working in unhealthy conditions under the threat of the whip.

Some masters gave slaves passes to visit family members who had been sold to other plantations. Some slaves used the passes to explain their presence on the road and delay the discovery of their escape through their masters' expectation that they would soon return from their "family visit." The cover of the holidays was essential for success. Clearly, there was little positive value in the slaveholder's version of Christmas. 

This quote from “Documenting the American South” illuminates how slave masters used the holiday to further control their slave populations by giving meaningless false hopes and kindness: 

"Frederick Douglass described the period of respite that was granted to slaves every year between Christmas and New Year's Day as a psychological tool of the oppressor... In his 1845 Narrative , Douglass wrote that slaves celebrated the winter holidays by engaging in activities such as "playing ball, wrestling, running foot-races, fiddling, dancing, and drinking whiskey"... He took particular umbrage at the latter practice, which was often encouraged by slave owners through various tactics...”
BECAUSE masters got the slaves drunk and made them fight each other for their amusement.

"In My Bondage and My Freedom, Douglass concluded that "[a]ll the license allowed [during the holidays] appears to have no other object than to disgust the slaves with their temporary freedom, and to make them as glad to return to their work, as they were to leave it". While there is no doubt that many enjoyed these holidays, Douglass acutely discerned that they were granted not merely in a spirit of charity or conviviality, but also to appease those who yearned for freedom, ultimately serving the ulterior motives of slave owners”.

Slavery ended more than a century ago but the struggle for freedom continues. Christmas is a time and reason for open dialogue and renewing our individual responsibility to become better human beings by opening our eyes to the continuous travesty of justice existing in America, and letting our voices be heard.

There are generations of my people who are still in bondage – in slavery – and need our conscious and concerted efforts to achieve freedom because they are kept in ignorance of their humanity and equality by generations of the slave holders children who still whip, rape and oppress them in 2021. THE COTTON PICKIN' TRUTH

So with all that In mind, why do I celebrate Christmas? Because I am proud of my ancestors who used the Christmas holiday to escape to freedom! I am inspired by their extraordinary courage, ingenuity and bravery. Their escape from bondage lead to the birth of free generations who live happy and prosper and experience the world as human beings and I celebrate them!

Let us honor their memory by using our freedom to help free those still in bondage so we can finally celebrate a Christmas that has real meaning.

IS IT SAFE TO LIVE HERE?

Years ago when I moved to Germany, my family and friends were seriously concerned for me. “Why are you moving to Germany?” they would ask. “Aren’t there Nazis there?” “Is it safe? Do they discriminate against Black people?” “You know no matter what you do you’ll never be German.”

When my family and friends recognized what a wonderful life I was having in Germany they began to visit. They found the people warm, friendly and welcoming. They partied just as hard in the small Oldenburg town where I lived as they did at home in New York City. It was an eye opening experience that the most immovable New Yorkers swore to follow me and move to Oldenburg when they retired.

Alas, after 20 years together with my German husband, my marriage ended in an ugly divorce. I grabbed the opportunity to return to the states to spend time with my mom, family and friends whom I had sorely missed over such a long time.

At first, I thought I would live in New York City. My mom, brother and several cousins had moved to New Jersey where rentals and real estate where much more reasonably priced (at that time). My sister and the rest of the family chose to remain in Harlem, Brooklyn and the Bronx where costs for everything and anything had soared and were exorbitantly high. They were so enraptured by the rat race that they couldn’t free themselves from the monkey trap. “If you can make it there, you’ll make it anywhere” is an anthem that blinded most people to the reality that you don’t have to work yourself to death to be happy or successful.

After recognizing that I am no longer a New York City girl, I moved to Las Vegas thinking I would continue my career as an entertainer. The environmental change was the first shock. Of course, Las Vegas is in the desert. No water, no greenery and intensely hot weather all year around. Even in the winter the comfortably cold nights are overshadowed by the heat of the day.

Las Vegas is a good place to make a living if you are a world renowned super star or an impersonator. I don’t fit into either of those categories so it wasn’t the best place for me. However, it was the right decision because that’s where I met Rey.

Me and my superhero husband Rey (yes, he is my superhero!) chose to explore the world. We’d lived in numerous countries and had similar experiences. 

The decision to move to Mexico came from me. I never considered the fact that Rey had lived here before and he never mentioned that he wanted to return.  Through our daily happiness meditations, the universe guided us to Mexico. I fell in love with the country in Tijuana. “This is not Mexico” Rey teased. “This is South Compton”. When I said I wanted to move to Mexico Rey couldn’t contain his excitement. “I know the perfect place!” He brought me directly to Puerto Vallarta.

Why did he never mention his desire to move to Mexico? Rey is an adventurer and willing to follow me anywhere. He is a person who can jump out of a plane anywhere on the planet and make a life for himself. Just like me!

Once again questions came from family and friends. “Why are you moving to Mexico?” they would ask. “Aren’t the drug dealers there?” “Is it safe? What about the Cartel?” “Do they discriminate against Black people?” “You know no matter what you do you’ll never be Mexican.”

My dear family and friends, these questions are self-limiting, insecure and powerless. Discrimination of all kinds exists all over the world. So does crime, injustice, inequality and poverty. By the same token, the world is full of love shared by good people of every nationality, cultural background and economic status.

The earth is beautiful. Explore it. Love it. Cherish it. Get your passport and manifest your destiny!

Biden's New Mandates

Why is Biden not addressing the fact that pharmaceutical companies, distributors and health care services/workers... are STILL totally indemnified from any consequences of selling/administering the vaccine?

If I believed taking the vaccine would prevent people from getting sick and/or dying I would take it. However, vaccinated people can transmit the virus as well as contract the disease.

Eight of my friends/colleagues in close proximity to where I now live were hospitalized and in intensive care this year. All except two were previously vaccinated and all became seriously ill anyway. Their hospital bills were enormous and now they are crowd funding and begging family and friends for money to help pay hospital bills, mortgages and basic living expenses.

Several other unvaccinated friends/acquaintences diagnosed positive and and were extremely ill. Being uninsured, they cared for themselves at home. According to them it was a horrendous week of high fever, headaches, coughing and tiredness. They isolated themselves, got plenty of rest and treated themselves with Aspirin or Paracetamol and Nyquil or some other cough medicine and were back on their feet after two weeks.

If you’re uninsured, costs related to diagnostic testing and treatment may range from $500 to $1,000 - and for those who need inpatient hospitalization, costs can run between $75,000 to $100,000 for a 10-day period. How does getting vaccinated help when it doesn't protect you from getting sick? You can still get stuck with enormous bills that insurance won't cover.

Some say that not taking the vaccine is immoral and un-American. America has a pattern of using black bodies for experimentation. If we want to talk about immorality let's talk about centuries of abuse and cruel medical experimentation on black people in America since slavery. Corpses being pulled from the ground for scientific study. Black women being sterilized without their knowledge and robbed of the opportunity to bear children. An entire Black community misled into believing they were immune from a fatal illness. We have been betrayed by the medical establishment,

I am not indifferent to the welfare of others. I always mask up in public places. I carry hand sanitizer which I use consistently. There are unacceptable risks associated with taking the vaccine. I know the risks and the costs of my decision. I alone have the right to decide what goes into my body. What the government or anyone else wants is beside the point.

I have never been vaccinated for the mumps. Had it when I was a child and survived it. I have never been vaccinated for the measels. Never had it. I have never been vaccinated for the chicken pox. Never had it. Never been vaccinated for the flu. Had it several times between 1977-2008. Always took care of myself. Survived it all. Have not had a cold since.

Was the FDA pressured to approve the vaccine? I don't know. It's highly suspicious. Mistrust of the government isn't my only issue. This pandemic has distracted all but the 1% from the true issues impacting our country and its leadership. The vaccine does not and cannot guarantee our safety. Forcing people to take the vaccine in order to work, travel or go to school is a denial of the freedoms guaranteed by the constitution. 

Knowledge of history tells me I should beware and I do! It's your choice. If you believe in it take it. I'm not mad at you. Accept the decision I have made for myself and do not try to coerce me.

The older I get the more I crave comfort food. My craving for healthy foods like vegetables and fruit only comes when I am clogged enough to feel miserable and/or I am so over weight that walking becomes a chore or bone spurs start to grow and walking becomes painful.

When I was a child we learned to eat nutritiously in school. 3 meals a day was the rule and bread and milk where touted as the most important components of a child’s diet.

A healthy breakfast included bacon, eggs and toast with butter and a glass of milk - or sugary cereals swimming in milk with fruit on top. Lunch was soup, a sandwich and a glass of milk with cookies for desert.  After school we snacked on peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cake or cookies with a glass of milk – preferably chocolate flavored. Dinner was usually meat, veggies and a starch like rice, pasta or potatoes and a pudding/jello or ice cream and cake for desert - with a glass of milk. Years later we learned that some of our dietary issues came from the fact we were lactose intolerant.

Over the decades there have been many debates on what healthy eating actually is, and it is clear that although the suggested food regimens of the 50’s-60’s fall short of healthy habits, we were definitely eating better back then, which leads to my current situation.

As the years go by and my finances change my food choices have become more affluent and less healthy. I eat a lot more meat and fewer vegetables. Savory snacks, especially potato chips have replaced apples, bananas and berries. I must have the creamiest of cheeses and the butteriest of breads. 

My biggest delight is dinking 2 or 3 sugary cocktails when I’m out for the evening with family and friends.  And don’t even mention fried food. Fry up a paper bag and I’ll probably eat that too. Now, that of course, is an exaggeration but that yuk that just went through your mind is the same yuk my body makes when it’s trying to digest all the crud that I love so much.

As a teenager and a young woman I did not recognize the affect my eating habits would have on my future health. I’ve been diagnosed as overweight and pre-diabetic with a disposition to hypertension. I’ve been fighting tooth decay for decades and arthritis is trying to become a part of my life.
American Foods Banned in Other Countries

Living an enjoyably active life is a challenge. The most significant challenge is having enough energy to do the things I enjoy – hiking, swimming, horseback riding and playing handball. The pain caused by diseases such as arthritis and osteophytes limits joint movement and encourages fatigue and depression.

I will not succumb to these slowly encroaching illnesses that are trying to steal my joy for living. I have decided to embark on my return to good health, restore my energy, live a pain free life and get my body back. I'm eating my last Belgian chocolate as I write this blog.😊 I am going to dump 25 of the 185 pounds I am now carrying.

I’ve no plans to go on a diet. I will resume a natural way of eating that does not include processed sugar, canned foods and sugary alcoholic beverages. I’ve already started body strengthening workouts with my favorite online senior citizen exercise gurus.

I know that without diet pills, extreme weight loss programs or high impact exercise it will take some time to achieve my goals. I also know that I will not suffer from the yoyo effect because I am going to give my body the time it needs to heal from the abuse it has survived over 70 years.

Young or old! Even if you don’t have any health issues or a weight problem, I’d love for you to join me in my quest. Let’s stay healthy together. I’ll let you know how I’m doing and I would really appreciate any suggestions and/or recipes you might suggest to help keep me motivated and on the right path.