ALL OF THIS...

Ive been thinking about this all weekend.

I was sitting in the nail shop for the first time in about three years. The guy is doing a really good job on my nails and I'm getting ready to pay him and all of a sudden I think : Do I really want to take on this responsibility again? Every two weeks to get a fill and something cute. I can afford it now, and I will forever be grateful for that, but who is really looking at my nails? Who is around to appreciate the time I take to make myself into this fly woman, this fly diva, that I want everybody to like. I shudder to think of all the pointless things that I do to adorn myself. It started to make me sick. It made me sick when I did all that I could do and nobody cared to even notice.

I remember I went to a birthday party for a dear friend of mine. I was to win the cutie award fo' sho! Head to toe gorgeous. I knew it and felt it all at the same time. All that deflated when I learned that this mutual friend of ours was married. Why you ask? because this chick looked as if it was constantly finals week. (Finals week was the time you really didn't care about appearance, you were always cramming, malnourished and lacked sleep.) That was the first time I thought of all this.... and for what??? What was it that was actually marriage material? Not that ole girl wasn't a sweet person and all but damn. I had to get some self esteem from the reserve before I went home...alone.

I take the time to pamper myself, not because it helps me feel good about myself, but because I want HIM to appreciate it.

I spend money month to keep a hair style tight...and for what? so that HE will notice me.

I don't know who HE is , what He is all about, what HE looks like, and still HE is present on my mind.

On my way home from the nail salon I talked to one of my guy friends whose intellect I admire; and I think its rather sexy. He tells me that I have to go continue this because like any good girl scout I gotta be prepared. I told him that I clean up well, and that if there was an event that I was going to that this whole nail & hair thing would produce a splendid performance. I was just jaded about doing all of this for any other garden-variety day. He tells me that because ole boy isn't in NC, I would prolly feel different (I called him later and he said he didn't care one way or the other...that's another blog altogether). This whole pampering thing is a necessary evil. He says that I'm doing it all for nobody, but somebody at the same time. I hate it when he makes sense in the most nonsensical terms.

Angry Black Woman Part Deux

Okay, I had to play the sterotypical role again. This time with my car...
Before I went back to Michigan for the holiday I got an oil change. They rotated my tires and Wednesday morning before my flight I found my rear tire on flat. I knew that I should have went to the Saturn Dealership. I wasn't going to deal with it then, so I just went on with my day getting in where I fit in..
When I returned Monday my tire was still flat and now I had to deal with the inevitable. I got the tire changed and went on to Discount Tire.
(Backstory: I've been a long time customer of DT, and when I moved to N. Carolina I bought two new tires for $67 total after a price war with Belle Tire. I didn't want to fall off the side of a mountain while traveling here so the new tires were a necessity. They were kind enough to give me a list of the DT's in N. Carolina just to make sure I would be taken care of where ever I go.)
When I got to DT and pulled out the tire the agent (LaMar) showed me the screw the punctured my tire. He said that they couldn't plug it up again because it had already been plugged twice and doing it a third time would be unsafe. Okay I understand that, I don't want Isabelle the Ion to be unsafe.
So I pulled out my reciept from the tires that I bought back in June 2006. LaMar took one look at the receipt and started telling about how they basically gave me the tires. I was like I know, that is kinda ridiculous I told him the story of the price war that day. He tells me that he can't do that again...I was like I kinda figured that but I'm not trying to spend over $100 for any tires so do the best that you can do. He kept telling me how DT lost money on that transaction and that he's got to get permission from the manager to get a price that low. He told me the cheapest tires he had in stock were $145, I told him that he had to do better than that and the details that he was giving me were none of my concern. I told him that I was giving him lee-way by going up to $100 . I told him that customer service and loyaty was my concern. If I'm not satisfied then I will go someplace else (even at a higher price) that will treat me better than what his establishment is treating me at the time. So its just a matter of if you are going to do better than $100 or not. I told him that it going to cost the company more money than the little funky $80 to get a NEW customer like me than it is to RETAIN a customer like me. So do what you gotta do. This bastid said "okay, I can do them at $99" I felt insulted and took my little receipt , told the man thanks, hopped into Isabelle and started heading towards Firestone. If looks could kill LeMar's mommah would be crying.
Before I got into the parking lot of Firestone my cell phone rings, it was LaMar telling me that he didn't want me to leave upset. That if I came back, I could get my tires at $67. I told LeMar that I was on my way.

MY TIME IN QUEEN CITY

THIS WEEKEND WAS THE BOMB DIGGITY YO!!!!
I had the chance to visit Charlotte NC and see one of my all time favorite online buddies The Infamous SJ!!! She is just as sweet in person as she is online! We had soo much fun, we talked about the death of Ms Foxy among other things (does he exsist?? the world may never know.)
This has been the highlight of my exsistence in North Carolina. I'm so glad I had the opportunity to meet Tiffany & Stephanie, and hang out with the best Charlotte has to offer...

Angry Black Woman Role

I've been fighting with this fitness gym all morning about my damn money. Let me tell you what happened. I joined a gym. Two days later I cancelled with letter. Why? Because that was when I got approved for my condo. There is a full fitness room right there in my building so it didn't make sense for me to shell out $400 for a membership when I'm already paying for one in my association fees. Anyway that was well over a month ago. Today I look at my account online and see that they took out a monthly installment of my checking account. I called back to the center where I joined to see what was up. He gave me two numbers that I could call for resolution and satisfaction. I called the number at 9am the guy said that he would look into it for me and I will receive a call back before twelve. At 12:02 I called after receiving no calls or information. He tells me oh sorry, I've just been so swamped. He took my name, phone # again and tried to put me off again for another 30 minutes. I ask him what happened the last three hours when you said the same thing? He couldn’t tell me. Then he states he will call me back tomorrow morning, when the office opens. I ask him when does the chick in the office that he has to contact get in? He couldn't tell me, I ask when does the office open, he couldn’t tell me, I ask him where is this office he couldn't tell me. So I run down the events of the day of him lying to me time and time again and ask him if he can understand my frustration he hands up on me. So for lunch I went to the gym and cussed out everybody in sight and by sound of my voice. I get my money back by Friday.

I hate being the sterotypical angry black woman, but dammit it gets results. I hate it when people lie to me and refuse to give the minimum customer service required to fix a simple misunderstanding. This tirade is a direct result of not eating any meat combined with slight PMS. I'm much calmer now, thus I can type this blog. I hope everyone else's morning went okay.

Sheletha

SOULMATE

(BLACK PR WIRE) LOS ANGELES, CA (EnvisionPR.com) – Clean Heart Productions releases a gripping cinematic journey into the realities facing today's successful, saved, single African-American women nationwide this fall in documentary, SOULMATE. According to the 2004 U.S. Census, 42.3% of all African-American women have never been married. This staggering statistic is one of many reflected throughout this deeply personal portrait which reveals the trials and triumphs of unforgettable women while offering hope and practical advice on issues such as loneliness, the desire for sexual intimacy and the ticking biological clock. Having already received rave reviews from private screenings across the country, acclaimed veteran television writer/producer and founder of Clean Heart Productions, Andrea Wiley, has produced a revolutionary film which she hopes will not only impact the body of Christ, but popular culture as well. SOULMATE brings you face to face with the stark realities facing today’s single, professional African American women such as:
•Black women are five times more likely to remain single at 40 than white women.
•Unlike any other race, Black women have higher educational attainment than black men.
•The more money and education a black woman has, the less likely she is to ever get married or have children.
•Almost 70% of all new cases of HIV/AIDS are black women.
•AIDS is the number one killer of black women between the ages of 25 and 44.
When asked why she embarked upon a film project on singleness when Wiley herself is a married mother of two, Wiley replies, “While working as Executive Producer on ‘The Parkers’ during its final year, I began to sense God calling me into a new season and into His purpose for my life.” Shortly after the show wrapped, Wiley’s sense was confirmed after two successful, single girlfriends, in separate conversations, bared their souls about single life behind the masks. “My heart went out to them and it was as though God said, ‘This is it. Tell this story.’ ”Beyond the friends and associates that gathered to share their journeys, SOULMATE offers insight and wisdom on coping with singleness in a God-centered way from some of the nation’s most dynamic Christian leaders: Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, senior pastor of Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, CA—of which 66% of his 11,000 plus membership are singles; speaker, singer, former advertising agent and New York Times best selling author of Sassy, Single and Satisfied, Michelle McKinney Hammond; Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale, senior pastor of Ray of Hope Christian Church in Decatur, GA; actress/comedienne Sherri Shepherd; and senior pastor Donald Bell of Covenant Blessing Fellowship Church, Gardena, CA, among others."Soulmate gives voice to the thoughts of successful, single women who love God, but desire a mate. Each opinion shared by the interviewees speaks to the heart and soul of every single woman. The advice given is insightful and necessary, and the reflections are heart wrenching and real. I recommend that Soulmate be viewed not only by singles, but by churches across the country so that spiritual leadership can get a clearer picture of the challenges single Christian women face on a daily basis,” comments Kimberley Brooks, author of He's Fine...But is He Saved?"African-American women have faced what seems like insurmountable obstacles, trials and tribulations. But in the midst of these storms that have raged for centuries, there is a special blessing and strength that God has bestowed to our women. In looking at the number of African-American women who find themselves without their ‘soul mate’, I must first urge our women and anyone seeking a mate to address the "soul" and establish an intimate relationship with God....,” adds Bishop Eddie L. Long, senior pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, GA. For those still waiting to exhale, SOULMATE penetrates the myriad of emotions felt by women at pivotal moments and stages in their lives. This inspiring film also offers some surprising revelations about the quest for one’s true…Soulmate.View trailer and purchase SOULMATE at http://www.soulmatefilm.com/ To book or sponsor a DVD screening, please send your request to Details@EnvisionPR.com. For all media inquiries, including interview and speaking requests, please contact Candace D. Reese via email at Candace@EnvisionPR.com or via phone at (678) 754-8881.ABOUT ANDREA WILEYAndrea Wiley has enjoyed successful careers in both corporate and entertainment industries. As an acclaimed television writer/producer and screenwriter, she has amassed a body of work that includes numerous high profile network comedy series’, including “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” starring Will Smith, “The Parent Hood,” The Jamie Foxx Show,” “The Steve Harvey Show,” “Malcolm and Eddie” and most recently, “The Parkers,” starring Mo’nique, on which she served as the Executive Producer. Wiley is the director and producer of her fourth documentary, entitled Soulmate, and has formed her own Los Angeles production company, Clean Heart Productions. The film web site is http://www.soulmatefilm.com/. ABOUT CLEAN HEART PRODUCTIONSClean Heart Productions is a Christian-based, multi-media company. The company’s mission is to bring attention to the power of the Christian faith, by illustrating scriptural principles in a relevant, relatable and irresistible manner. It was further formed to be a ‘change agent’ in popular culture by presenting the uncompromising Gospel to audiences everywhere.ABOUT ENVISION CONSULTING SERVICES, INC.Envision Consulting Services, Inc., owned and controlled by Candace D. Reese, is a results-oriented, full-service public relations boutique, helping clients reach their business visions and create new corporate images, through effective communications and public relations management.Services include, but are not limited to Publicist, Media Tours, Advertising Agent, Event Marketing/Management, Seasonal Promotions, Community Relations, Multi-Media Buyer/Consultant, Motivational/Training Seminars, and Marketing/Public Relations Consultant. The company web address is http://www.envisionpr.com/.

I Only Did This Cause Rich Told Me To

Okay Ill start this later...