Vocal Expressions

We can't rely on anyone but ourselves to define our existence, to shape the image of ourselves. Spike Lee, 1957 - Filmmaker

The past couple of weeks has been nothing short of a horrific nightmare one which a lot of Haitians wish they could wake up from. But sadly, that's not the case. The earthquake that ripped apart Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti on January 12, 2010 damaged many historical buildings but nothing was more devastating than the many lives that were lost (150,000+ buried in mass graves?). Many countries have reached out in a humanitarian effort to pledge funds, provide food, medical assistance, rescue teams, engineers and other support. As I watch the news coverage of the situation, I'm appalled at the violence that has erupted simply to get supplies but in some ways I can understand the angst they must be feeling - I couldn't begin to understand it. We should all try to reach out by pledging what we can to assist in this effort and be careful of giving to organizations who are trying to make a profit off this demise. One reputable organization although it has come under scru...

One of my all time FAVORITE shows "24" premiered last night and continued tonight. Four hours of action packed scenes with Jack Bauer leading the fight against counter terrorism. This season, "Day 8" takes place in New York at the United Nations as President Allison Taylor, alongside new chief of staff Rob Weiss, negotiate international security with Omar Hassan, a determined Middle Eastern leader visiting the U.S. on a peacemaking mission. Omar Hassan's brother, Farhad is caught up with the Russians to buy nuclear weapons and wants his brother dead (should be an interesting plot twist). If you're an avid fan of this show like I am, you'll see that CTU is now revamped and under the command of razor-sharp Brian Hastings (however, I'm not too sure of his decisions sometimes). Chloe O'Brian is back with her quirkiness and former FBI agent Renee Walker (more deadlier than ever) along with some new comers: expert data analyst Dana Walsh (with a hidden...

Yes, I know it's an odd name but I was drawn to this meetup because of the wide variety of planned activities. Yesterday, I finally attended one of the BRC's meetup to see the movie, "The Book of Eli" starring Denzel Washington in White Marsh, MD. I met some very cool people and then we went for an after movie dinner at the Red Brick Station where we had a very lively discussion about movies, spirituality, music, etc. If you haven't seen "The Book of Eli" you should definitely check it out. It had a lot of hidden biblical messages worth pondering about. The movie was shot against a post-apocalyptic backdrop with Denzel as an artful warrior - loved the fight scenes! So I hope you take away as much as I did from this movie that somethings are worth protecting and fighting for.

Holidays have a tendency to be stressful for everyone, so too is adjusting to the first week of the New Year. So, I tackled the first week of the New Year by taking a vinyasa yoga class, a break from my fitness yoga class when I can get there. This type of yoga is geared toward paying close attention to the journey between the postures. The movements are designed to create heat in the body and let’s just say that after several movements, I felt an increased circulation and I was drenched in sweat. After class, I was relaxed, calm and ready to finish out my week. I’ll definitely try to make this a part of my exercise routine at least once a week!

It's 2010. Another year to embark on. I actually ventured out with some friends to celebrate New Year's Eve at Michael's 8th Avenue in Glen Burnie. The ballroom was packed with everyone eager to put on their party hats, feather tiaras, beads and blow the horns at midnight. The live band was awesome - playing a mixture for everyone. And the dance floor, well what can I say....it was never empty...lol. From the electric slide, cupid shuffle to ride sally ride and purple rain, everyone had a great time. Well, off I go to catch some zzz's ready to see what the New Year will bring.