For the story-teller in all of us

I'm looking forward to the next great American novel coming from someone I know. This is for those participating in National Novel Writing Month. I'm wishing all of us, novelist, blogger, tweeters, etc. lives filled with inspiration, determination and peace.

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, oh, oh

I break tradition, sometimes my tries, are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes, but I can't live that way

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins

Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten

Oh, yeah, yeah

For us mortals

This past Saturday evening and I was leaving the Park Hyatt Hotel on my way to a birthday dinner with a girlfriend, when it happened.

Have you ever seen a man so unbelievably fine that you did a double-take?
Have you ever seen a man so unimaginably attractive that you're body instantly reacted?
Have you ever seen a man so incredibly delicious that you lost the ability the speak?
Its rare, as it has only happened to me one other time.

I was coming up the stairs to the lobby when I saw him. I literally stopped in my tracks and my mouth fell open. He smiled at me and said, "Hello." I, having lost the ability to speak just smiled back and somehow made my way to the front desk. I had lost all of my cool points, even my back-up reserve points went out the window in an instant.

The object before me had beautiful caramel colored skin, jet black curly hair, a beard and moustache. He was at least 6' and had a smile that would melt ice cubes...to say I was blown away is an understatement of galactic proportions . PLUS, he had BIG hands & feet and you know what that means!

As I was at the front desk waiting for my valet receipt, I kept turning around to get glances of the magnificence that had captured my attention. When I inadvertently said out loud, "He's f*ckin' gorgeous," the desk clerk smiled. She simply said, "Moustaffa is married."

I got one last look at Moustaffa as I went to my car. I may never see him again, and I'm okay. It is just nice to know that my God creates such wonderfulness on the earth as to be had by mere mortals.

Who me, who else

Is there any doubt...I am THAT woman and ya know it.

This is one of my favorite songs of empowerment and self-esteem.

Whitney Houston - I'm Every Woman
Whatever you want
Whatever you need
Anything you want done baby
I do it naturally
'Cause I'm every woman (Every woman)
It's all in me
It's all in me
Yeah
I'm every woman
It's all in me
Anything you want done baby
I do it naturally
I'm every woman
It's all in me
I can read your thoughts right now
Every woman, whoever made ya say...
Whoa whoa whoa
Whoa (oh) whoa (oh) whoa
I can cast a spell
See, but you can't tell
Mix a special groove
Put fire inside of you
Anytime you feel danger or fear
Then instantly
I will appear
Yeah oh
I'm every woman
It's all in me
Anything you want done baby
I do it naturally
Whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa
I can set your knees
like playing unto the seas
I can make a rhyme of confusion in your mind
And when it comes down to some little flash of love
I got it, I got it
I got it, got it, baby baby
I'm every woman
It's all in me
Anything you want done baby
I do it naturally
I'm every woman
It's all in me
I can read your thoughts right now
Every woman, whoever made ya say...
Whoa whoa whoa
Whoa whoa whoa
I ain't braggin'
'Cause I'm the one
Just ask me
Oh, it shall be done
And don't bother
to compare
I've got it
Whoa whoa whoa (Repeat)
Ahhhhh
I'm every woman (Repeat)

This is my MANTRA

I immediately connected with this song, the message of love, empowerment and inspiration. As I quickly approach my 41st birthday, this is my gift to you. Be blessed.

Des'ree - You Gotta Be

Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
Stand up and be counted
Don't be ashamed to cry
You gotta be
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day
Herald what your mother said
Readin' the books your father read
Try to solve the puzzles in your own sweet time
Some may have more cash than you
Others take a different view
My oh my heh, hey
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day
Don't ask no questions, it goes on without you
Leaving you behind if you can't stand the pace
The world keeps on spinning
You can't stop it, if you try to
This time it's danger staring you in the face
Oh oh oh Remember
Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Lovers, they may cause you tears
Go ahead release your fears
My oh my heh, hey, hey
You gotta be
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day
You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold
You gotta be wiser, you gotta be hard
You gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm
You gotta stay together
All I know, all I know, love will save the day

Who's to blame for this Redskins season

It's not all Dan Snyder's fault, he's only the owner.
It's not all Jim Zorn's fault, he's only the head coach.
It's not all Jason Campbell's fault, he's only the quarterback.

As a staunch fan, I would love to put the blame for this year's season squarely on the shoulders of one person; however, the truth is no ONE person is to blame. While it is easy (and a bit fun) for us to point fingers at Snyder's micromanaging Napoleon complex, Zorn's lack of leadership or Campbell's inability to get first downs, it is not any ONE of their faults.

The Redskins find themselves in in this predicament because of the total breakdown of ALL THREE areas the aforementioned men represent: management, coaches and players.

• Management has been hell-bent on trying to buy a Superbowl, paying outrageous salaries to marquis players past their prime and micromanaging the coaching staff.
  
• The coaching staff has demonstrated a complete and utter lack of leadership, motivation and inspiration. NO team is going to follow weak coaches.
  
• The players have not played their best football. They seem to have forgotten some of the basics: tackling with two hands, falling forward for the extra inches, going after every ball, etc.
• In short, the organization lacks leadership in the office, the locker room and on the field. They are demoralized, lack confidence and have lost its will to win.
  

The teams with all three segments firing, easily make it to post-season. The teams with 2 segments working can get to a wild card game, and those teams, like the Redskins, that are faltering in all three areas...well, do I have to say it out loud.

Do I have the solution, no...what I do know is someone in the organization needs to step up and say, "enough is frickin' enough."

I'm #thankfulfor my parents

I'm #thankfulfor my parents, their love, support, encouragement, patience, forgiveness and sacrifices...this a letter I wrote to them last year.



November 8, 2008

My dear parents,

There aren't any words to describe the love, respect and appreciation I have for you. There has never been a moment when I did not know that you loved me with all your heart and would always love me. You have always put me first and I am honored to have you as my parents.

You have made sacrifices so that I would have this, that or the other thing. You have risen early, stayed up late, worked long hours for 6-7 days a week. You have done it all and I know it was for me, and I thank you.

When I think back over my life, my mind wanders to walks on our property, deer feeding in our yard, laundry on the line and being together as a family. I'm reminded of three square meals, seven days a week and weekends exploring museums, historical sites and parks. I'm reminded of Redskins games, boxing matches and Flip Wilson, Real People and The Gong Show.

I'm reminded of Mount Hope, a bus shelter, Mrs. Willet and ANS. How appropriate this week, as I remember going to Nanjemoy Elementary with you to vote.

I remember thunder storms, losing power and diving in the middle. I remember heavy quilts and handmade blankets; I remember a window unit, baseboard heat and never-ending sweet well water. I remember a gravel right-of-way, a circle, a white frame that became brick one summer. I remember two bedrooms and hall with a light that stayed on all night. I remember a blue bathroom and kitchen cabinets with see-thru doors. I recall snow cream, a garden and Shaft.

I remember 143-C Maryland Point Road, Nanjemoy, MD 20662, 5437 Call Place, SE and 1620 Mass Avenue, SE as places of safety, love, joy and laughter. I remember oatmeal, PB &J, fried chicken, crispy fried fish and crabs, crabs & crabs. I'm reminded of quiet nights, bright mornings, laurel, heat bugs, azaleas, a tire swing and volleyball/badminton net. I remember two yellow walls, two blue walls, red carpet, a twin bed with Popeye sheets and a cedar chest and a cedar closet.

I'm reminded of the white Pinto, the red Pinto, the station wagon, the blue car (from Jesse), the blue Pinto with the sunroof, the Maverick, the gray car, the brown car, the BIG Buick and the burgundy Chrysler. I remember Walt Disney World, the World’s Fair, the county fairs and festivals, fests & street parties (Cherry Blossom, Greek, Kennedy Center Jazz & Open House, Taste of DC, Dance Place, etc.). There were theatre workshops & performance, modeling classes & fashion shows, flute lessons and swimming lessons. I remember a play and another girl was Betsy Ross and I knew her lines better than she did; I remember winning a Best Supporting Actress Award in high school; and I'm reminded of cheerleading in the sun and rain.

I remember Monopoly, spades and Uno. I remember hide-n-go seek, jump rope, freeze tag, and hop scotch on Cappy Avenue. I'm reminded of surprise birthday parties for Melvin & Chauncey and Sam. I remember pig roasts, house parties, DJs, cook-outs, reunions, births, weddings, surgeries and funerals. I remember Easters and Christmases with George, Reava, Lucy & Jesse; I remember New Year's Eve with Lucy and Jesse and I remember riding the bus with Reava to Atlanta, Orlando, and Reading.

I remember Uncles Jeter, Joe (Philips), John & Hartwell, cousin Philip, down home Sue, Aunt Dot (Mouton) with the bright smile, Mr. & Mrs. King and Aunt Laura to name a few. I remember Uncles Brewster, Melvin, Rubin, Garfield and Walter and Aunts Pearl, Maude, Willie Mae and Kat. I remember Shirley & George (Atwater), Effie (Johnson), Ann (Nickens), Rusty & Tink. Most of all I remember Mary, George, Reava and Lucy and I miss them. I thank these last four, plus Lloyd, who imparted love, wisdom and knowledge into you that you would pour it into me.

All in all, I remember a life of love, care, compassion, laughter, learning, kindness and sharing. I could not have prayed for better parents; while I may never fully realize all that you have done for me, the dreams you gave up, the hopes you let fade or the goals you neglected, know that I am forever grateful and thankful to God for giving me to you.

Love,
Shannon

P.S.: Mother, you are a woman of incomparable strength, grace, love, compassion and style, and I would count myself fortunate to be half the woman you are today. When Reava asked if you thought you were Jackie Kennedy, she wasn’t only talking about fashion.

Daddy, you are a man’s man and I’m proud to carry your family name. I hope I am as dependable, kind, supportive and respectful to others as the example you put before me. I know the random acts of kindness you’ve performed for others were repaid in strangers acts of kindness to me.

Redskins PSA

I want to thank @OWillis for bringing this to my attention...now we can all do our part to help our home team be the team we know they can be.



More videos can be found at FunnyDanny.com

It's November and you know what that means

It is November 1st, 2009, seven days until my 3rd-39th birthday.

As in years past, I use this season to reflect on the previous twelve months and look forward to the next twelve months. I consider my emotional, spiritual, intellectual and physical well-being.

• Have I progressed or digressed in any of these areas?
• Have I met last year's short-term goals and made perceptible progress on my long-term goals? Are the long-term goals still applicable/valuable?
  
• Have I been a good person this year, helped others, supported my chosen nonprofits, given to my church, etc.?
• Have I picked up any new habits, if so, are they "good" or "bad?"
• What are my goals for next year? What are the milestones on the way to the finish line?
  
• Are there new things I can learn? What can I learn to do better?
  
• Have I spoken life, love, joy and peace this year?
• Have I been a friend? Have I forgiven those who trespassed against me?
  
• Have those in my life brought positivity, energy, laughter, etc.?
• Have I been the best Shannon I know I can be?
• Did I give my life 100%?

You get the idea.

At first glance, this 40th year seems to have been pretty good; however, there is always need for reflection and definitely room for improvement: going further, doing better, digging deeper, reaching higher and going above & beyond.

I invite you, my family, friends, tweeps, followers, connections, readers, fans and haters ;-) to join me on my journey this month. I'm beginning by being thankful and grateful:

"First and foremost, I'm #thankfulfor my Lord and savior Jesus Christ, who gave his life that I am saved."

Teamwork is life-work

One of the reasons I enjoy football is because of the team concept: everyone working together towards a common goal. There aren't any big I's or little U's, only WE and US, and while there may be superstar players, they tend to only shine when the team is doing well.

• A quarterback is only as good as his receivers;
• a running back is only as good as his blockers;
• the linemen are only as good as their brother to left and right;
• the coach is only as good as his players;
• and so on, and so on and so on...you get my point.

They have to work together, depend on each other, trust each other and do their individual best for the team to be successful.

This is also a great life lesson. None of us is here alone, even as an only-child-single-no-child-having woman, I'm not alone. I have others that I'm responsible to and for, and if I'm not doing my best, then they may reap direct or indirect consequences. Thus it is up to me to be the best daughter, girlfriend, sista-girl, co-worker, etc. I can. Thus when everyone does his/her part, we all succeed, prosper and make this our best game.

At this point, I could go easily go into some love, peace and light rhetoric or take you back to football and the Redskins lack of teamwork...instead I'm going to leave you with a simple question:

Is your team winning the game, if not, are you playing your best?

Hail to the Redskins...I don't think so

Hail to the Redskins
Hail Vic-tor-y
Braves on the Warpath
Fight for old D.C.

Run or pass and score -- we want a lot more!
Beat 'em, Swamp 'em,
Touchdown! -- Let the points soar!
Fight on, fight on 'Til you have won
Sons of Wash-ing-ton. Fight!, Fight!, Fight!

Hail to the Redskins
Hail Vic-tor-y
Braves on the Warpath
Fight for old D.C.
-Washington Redskins Fight Song

This is what did NOT happen in yesterday's game against the St. Louis Rams: no warpath, no points soar and barely any fighting for "old D.C." Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we won; I'm glad our defense was on point and I'm glad I can wear my Redskins earrings today. However, I'm not glad we didn't score ONE touchdown, I'm not glad we didn't roll over the Rams as we should have and I'm most certainly not glad with our offense's inability to seal the deal.

There are basics to football: run, catch, tackle, throw and kick...this is the game in its most simplistic form. Young boys playing Pop Warner Football learn these fundamentals from the beginning. These skills are continually practiced and honed as the boys --> teenagers --> young men --> professional athletes progresses through careers in the game of football. Seemingly the Skins have forgotten these fundamentals. I can say this because there is NO other explanation for being in the red zone FOUR times and not putting seven points on the score board at least once, if not every time.

What's the point of fighting your way down the field if you're not going to go all the way?!?! This is the equivalent of shopping and not buying anything, what's the point of finding a parking space, fighting a crowd, trying on clothes/shoes and then walking out empty handed?

I need to buy the shoes; I need to cross the end zone and I most definitely need a win I can sing about.