Song of the Week...

That Girl by Pharrell
Now I really like this video...its cute, I like the concept...
I hope you enjoy...

Umi Says....

So I have been "MIA" this past week...I had to go through some procedures, take some meds and things, for my cyst. Just dealing mentally with everything that was going on as well as the physical pain, was a lot for me.

On top of that I had to deal with the fact that my ex's grandmother, Mom Mom, passsed away...she was a wonderful woman that I truly loved, admired and respected. So that was hard, but at the same time she was suffering so it a bitter sweet moment because at least now I know she is at peace...and I was able to say good-bye before she passed away, so I am at peace

There is a lot going on in my head right now, its just a lot of stuff going on with me....

So this is the song that really says how I am feeling....

Song of the Week

Not much introduction needed on this one...although I am not feeling her album all like that...I DO like this song...and I like this video...



To the left...
I know that's right....HOLLA

The Debate

So for about the last week or so I have been having a debate with myself over a particular song. Now what makes the debate so hard is the fact that I LOVE this artist...one of his biggest fans because I just think that he is lyrically capable of doing something totally beyond this new single.

I think my man MikeSee said it best though with This letter as his #1 Fan.

If you haven't figured it out by now, I am talking about Mr. Jay-Z himself and his new single "Show me what you got"...off first listen I didn't like it...and really lyrically I am still disappointed, the truth is Mr. Justin Blaze totally outshines Mr. Carter on this track...the production is FIRE and that is why I think I am starting to appreciate the song now...

Much of what hip hop is is one part lyrics and one part production...if you lyrical ability is out of this world crazy you can get away with ok production and vice versa...so the lyrics are alright, but the production is CRAZY HOT...so that's what brings the single together...then to be honest I think the video is cute...

I just want Jay to do what he does, but at HIS BEST...don't come out with some Change Clothes Part II (which I think he is) I mean talk to me Jay, give me something that is beyond a head banger...use your status to do something...you can't call yourself the Savior of Hip Hop and NOT bring the real HIP HOP...but I disgrese...don't make me wish you was still just the President of Def Jam with your new album...

Throw back

So last night I got a call from a number that I didn't recognize but something told me to answer it...and I am glad that I did...it was my cousin Toya out of Chi-town!

I haven't seen Toya since our grandfather passed in 2003 and hadn't talked to her in, what has GOT to be like two years! Crazy right...especially being that she and I were extremely close as little girls...I would go to North Chicago/Wakigan area for a couple months out of the summer...

But as we both got older we didn't have time for the summer trips not even down to our grandparents house in Alabama. Plus she and I were just completely different...looked different, shaped different, acted different...the whole nine. So while we got along, we often times didn't. I remember the last time I saw her (before the funeral) we were pre-teens, and I had gone to Chicago for the summer (that was like one of the first real times where I was made to feel different and out of place because of my skin color...I was the lightest and I was a little thing too, and my cousin was dark and thick, and I was made to feel every bit out of place).

Well it was near the end of the trip and we got into it. Instead of my Aunt figuring out what happened she just to Toya's side and threatened to let her "loose" on me...(yeah that's what I said...is this grown woman who is supposed to my Aunt actually saying this to me...well I never really thought she liked me anyways, you know as a kid you can just sense some things...and that proved my point. I called my mother and father and was like look ya'll got to come and get me NOW...cause these mofos up here is trippin...)

after that I was like bump it...I'll holla...

So I really didn't have too many words for them...you know...then our senior year of high school (we are the same age, but I am a couple months older) I found out she was pregnant and I was like well we are going down totally different roads...

so last night we caught up...and after a few years and 3 kids difference (she has 3 beautiful little girls)...I think we can finally be cousins again...meaning we will be able to have a mature, adult, female relationship with each other...

It was cool talking to her...I learned something that I really needed to know...it seems that she too has had to have a cyst removed from get this her LEFT ovary, and she also had one on her right...now all of this comes up with me telling her what is currently going on with me...CRAZY right!

WE were both just blown away...

She and her family are doing well, and I am doing well...she didn't even know that I had graduated with my Master's degree...we have both been successful in our own ways...and it was GREAT to hear from her and know that she is doing alright...

Violence....

So you know that things are crazy out here and you know that the youth of today really need guidance and help but when it hits home it really bothers you...

so yesterday evening I get a call from my brother who is a Security guard at a PG High School that will remain nameless, and he says that he has gotten suspended from work, and here is why:

....he was trying to break up a fight and this little youngin threatened to kill him literally and then actually tried by lunging at him with a knife...he has a scar/slash across his face...my brother spun around to avoid the little boy and got cut and grabbed his arm...my brother ended up breaking the little boys arm and fracturing his jaw...so he is suspended with pay and has to go to counseling because they want him to be alright (which I agree with)...

but what's crazy is that the boys parents were at the school yesterday when my brother got back from the hospital (they made him go and they wanted to keep him because his pressure was up but he wouldn't stay) the boys parents, specifically his father, were up in there acting like fools wanting my brothers address and personal information so that he could "take care of this myself"

and we wonder why the kids are off the hook, look at the parents...

instead of looking at their child who tried to not only stab another student but an adult and threatened to kill him and saying ok I need to deal with this, my child, they want to come after my brother...totally UNBELIEVABLE!

these kids act as if its cool to be crazy, its cool to be violent...I am so convinced it’s the videos, games, movies and all of that stuff that makes getting money by any means necessary a cool lifestyle...what's even worse is the fact that they don’t have people breaking stuff down for them...like its just entertainment, this is real life...and its not like high school isn’t in a nice decent area...they want to be from the hood...that ain’t cute

In a totally unrelated event...

a mentee of mines boyfriend's father (I know I know, but you all get it) was shot last Friday the 13th. Two 16 y/o boys tried two rob him and ended up shooting him. The bullet didn't hit any vital organs and was just shy of hitting his spine. However, he developed a blood clot where they bullet was lodged. The bullet moved and nicked is bawl causing him to bleed internally. He had to be rushed into emergency surgery yesterday. So pretty much things are very dangerous right now and are just up in the air.

So here you have two fathers (my brother has 3 daughters and a son) who have been affected by totally uncalled for violence from young African American males...I don't know what to do or what to say...I would say that they need father's in their homes, but like I said the one student had both parents up at the school, acting a pure de fool...

Do I really want the black family to come back together if they are going to be off the hook like this? What is happening to our youth who have no respect for life, for themselves, for each other, not even their elders? What is going on in the world man...

I am totally disgusted, dishearted, and of course concerned....talk to me people I am all ears...

what can we do to be apart of the solution?

Another lesson learned

So as you all know I am currently dealing with a serious health situation that will require surgery soon...

Well last week I got a bill from my doctor's office at the tone of $353...now when I went to the doctor's office I was told that with my insurance I would be billed and it would be 80-20 meaning the insurance would pay 80% and I would pay 20%, however, upon talking to the billing office I was informed that was not the case and even though I have an Open Access Insurance Plan, the doctor's office didn't participate and therefore I would be responsible, from now own, for the majority of any bills....

so today I tried to upgrade my insurance, but even with my situation, I can't...I have to wait until April of next year to upgrade to the PPO plan in which my doctor's office participates....well you may be wondering why didn't I know that....well I assumed, which is always the wrong thing to do, that since it was an open access plan I would be alright...WRONG!

so now people when deciding on your insurance plan from your job call each and every one of your doctor's offices and determine what programs or who participates in what so that you won't be short....

If it was an 80-20 situation as I was previously told I would have been fine, but that is not the case...and I can't afford to pay 1000s of $$s for a surgery...

I don't know what Imma do...go to another doctors and risk feeling comfortable with them doing it?

What's next....who knows....