Where My Ladies At?

Okay so this is becomming a frequent issue and a matter that I'm feeling bold enough to address. Something that has struck me as quite disturbing if you will. There is no doubt that this year has brought us new movements in the political, technological, and entertainment aspects of our nation. However I am feeling a sense of confusion being sent to the youth, especially our young women. Just a week ago I dedicated my time into focusing on this matter and I observed a few females who I will identify as Subjuect A, B,C, and D. And boy was I blown away from what I had discovered. Subject A is a quiet girl, very pretty. However she has no ambition. Now I know you're probably thinking, "How can you detirmine such a strong thesis Mocha?" But seriously it was clearly obvious. She was only fifiteen but if you held a conversation with her you could easily conclude that she had no goals and nothing pushing her to do so. Now subject B, on the other hand may have had a stronger mind set, but it wasn't for the right reasons. She was merely focused on a boy who had been already involved. Subject C was a nice girl as well. However her vocabulary was attrocious. We are all guilty of ebonics and text talk, but she had took it to a whole new dimension. Subject D had to be by far my favorite. She didn't engage in what the others did, she was very focused very respectful and well mannered. I was indeed impressed by her.

Now there are several different directions we can point the blame, but today I'm pointing at the media, I'm pointing at some celebrities, and I am pointing at ourselves. There is never a day that goes by when I'm on myspace or facebook and I don't see something inspired by an artist. Of course the greatest sensation sweeping these young females right now would have to be accredited to Nicki Minaj. Nowadays everyone is throwing Minaj, or Lewinski after their first name. Now there is nothing wrong with doing this however alot of our younger girls aren't receiving the right message. And this is breaking my heart. We have to many females who are sitting around wanting things to happen, instead of getting out and making them happen. Nicki Minaj displays the ideal of not only this but also of homosexuality, drugs, and fast cash. Things that look fun and sound appeasing, but in reality don't get you very far. What happened to girls growing up wanting to be doctor's, nurses and teachers? Where are my future lawyers who will bring justice and serve to our economy in corporate fields? This is why I am detirmined to speak out. It breaks my heart to see girls selling their dreams to be less in life simply because it looks fun. Ladies there is more to life then this. They see these video girls dressing scandalously and it appeals to them as sexy. Someone needs to teach them that you can be professional, you can apply yourself, and still be sexy. There is nothing wrong with being different, by all means flaunt your originality. There is more to life than getting high and drinking. I'm not saying don't ever do them, but make sure you don't let it defeat you. Being bad doesn't mean that you should define yourself in its literal aspect. Any woman who works hard and is doing something positive with herself can be bad. Most importantly we need to stop making excuses and prepare ourselves for the real world.

To my readers, It is vital that you undertand I am not throwing shade towards Nicki Minaj or such the sort. I just need you to understand your role in our society. We not only owe it to ourselves but to the several women who fought hard for us to have these rights. At one point women didn't have the privelages that they have today. We need to utilize this freedom by making the best out of our lives with it. That's why when I establish myself I am going to start an organization dedicated to young females. As defined on the online dictionary lady means a woman who is polite and well spoken, or a woman of high social position or economic class. So with that I ask these young females : Where My Ladies At? Who will help me carry the torch into our next generation. Who will be the light in the eye of young girls to come. Surely I cant do it alone. This is why admire stars like Diana Ross, Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Keyshia Cole, Lauryn Hill, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, and India Arie. They are all sexy wise hard working women. They are familiar with the struggle and found ways to overcome that. I'll end this by asking my girls one more time. Where My Ladies At?

Remembering Ti`ti

There are some people who you encounter in life that you will never forget. Yolanda Denise Casalan, better known as Ti`ti was one of those people. Born the oldest of seven children she was my father’s oldest sister and my grandmother’s first child. My first memories of her were when I was a young girl. I remember her presence being very exciting because she had such a vibrant personality and always had a way of entertaining a crowd. Of all my three aunts she never allowed us to call her Aunt Yolanda or Niecey as her siblings did, to us her name was Ti`ti and nothing else. You see, Ti`ti comes from the word Tia which means aunt in Spanish, and that’s how she preferred to be addressed. I remember her laughing at me sometimes when I would call her Aunt Ti`ti because technically I was calling her “Aunt” twice.
Ti`ti had a special love for children. She had two sons of her own, a grandson, and a host of nieces and nephews. Even though she didn’t come out much she made sure she sent things to us expressing her love, and by throwing several slumber parties in which all of my cousins would go to and be spoiled rotten by her. Even though she was much fun and seemed to have much energy, I always noticed there was something peculiar about her. For one she wasn’t like the rest of my aunts. There is no denying that our genetic background contained full figured women, however she was very thin. Another is while staying at her house and eating breakfast I noticed she’d take a host of medications in the morning. She had trouble gaining weight and she would spend several weeks at a time in and out of the hospital. Every time she went I would over hear my family saying she has pneumonia, or the flu. I remember the day she finally came out to a family barbeque at my house, and having to be rushed to the emergency room shortly after. It was then that I was determined to figure out what was wrong with my aunt. I gathered all the courage I had, and asked my mother.
“Your aunt has HIV honey, a disease that causes her to get sick very easily, because her body is not strong enough to fight off the germs.” My mother had explained to me. I don’t think at that time I was fully aware of how serious the disease was until years came and I was able to gain some background knowledge on it from school and other research. As I got older I began to question secretly to myself how she could have possibly contracted the disease and how she managed to smile and be so happy. I was able to have that opportunity in one of my last but greatest memories with my aunt the night she threw what she had called a “Slumber Extravaganza.” All of my cousins and my siblings were there as she had fast food and pizza catered to our hungry needs. She had played games with us told us stories and managed to put everyone to sleep. Everyone else had fallen asleep except me, giving me the opportunity to talk to my aunt. She explained to me that she lived a reckless lifestyle when she was younger, and that a lot of choices she made from the past resulted in the disease she had been suffering from. She also told me that even though she isn’t as healthy as she use to be, she doesn’t let the sickness discourage her but yet uses it as her drive to get through each day. I was so inspired. I fell asleep in her arms that night content that we were able to talk about that matter.
From there on out I entered High School as a very active student which allowed less time for me to make with my aunt. In between that time she spent several trips back and forth to the hospital as well. I knew I loved Ti`ti, but I think I was entirely to acquainted with the news of her going in and getting out , that I just assumed it would always happen that way. However I was wrong. On January 18, 2007 my aunt died. I remember her being in the hospital quite some time and the family beginning to feel worried. I remember coming home from school and getting the phone call hearing the pain in my father’s voice and all the commotion in the background. I burst out into tears of sadness, rage, and emptiness. Thoughts began spinning through my mind of how I should’ve made more time, or done some things a little differently. My Ti`ti was really gone. I remember going to her funeral. Completely unequipped to experience what I did. My father held my hand at the viewing and in the end; he needed more ushering than I did. Seeing all her brothers and sisters, especially crying like that, just broke my heart. This woman was loved by so many.
Although it has been two and a half years since the anniversary of her death, it still feels fresh in my mind. I loved my Ti`ti undeniably so. I remember telling my mother how I resented not making more time for her. My mother reassured me that I made all the time I could for her and that Ti`ti would be proud of me. And a lot of my motivation comes from her. She always told me to never make excuses for myself, always reach for the highest mountain. She told me that the things of her past resulted in her what she had went through later in life. I learned that even though she went through that she never expected any one to feel bad for her, or let alone treat her differently. She told me if she had to die she would feel complete as long as she lived to see her second grandson, and her fiftieth birthday, each of which she was able to do. There isn’t a moment that goes by, of when I don’t think of her. I truly loved this woman and gained some insight from her as well. I will carry out her memory for our next generations to come, and celebrate her for she was truly something special to have encountered in one’s life time. In memory of my beautiful aunt, words will not express the pain I felt the day she left us. I appreciate the memories she’s given me, and I will cherish them for a lifetime. I am so thankful to have had a wonderful aunt like my Ti`ti.

VMA's

Okay I can be ultra late but I decided to highlight some of my most memorable moments of the 2009 VMA's...And they are as followed :

Kanye &&' Taylor Swift
(Don't ever fix ya lips like collagen and say something when you're gonna end up apologin) lol his words not mine



Although you screwed up very badly,probably lost a few fans, and humiliated yourself on national television, Kanye I still forgive you. And I think every one needs to get off his back now. He knows he messed up and he apologized. We all make mistakes and do irrational things...I think he gets it now !!

Lady Gaga



Whether you like her or not, you have to give Lady Gaga props for her 2009 VMA performance. Her vocals were in tact and her swagg is completely unlike no other. I mean of course every one was blown away by her bold eccentric designs but you know what she's the perfect candidate for originality.

BEYONCE !!


Okay it is no secret I am an out of the closet Beyonce fan. She is such a diva and such a lady I mean seriously. Despite the fact that Kanye targeted her as his motive towards embarrassing Taylor, When she accepted her award Beyonce allowed Taylor to relive her shine and even show the public that she was happy for her. Aside from that she killed her performance which came to me as no suprise. I mean this is merely my opinion and I am open to the fact that you may not or may disagree with some of my comments. But I'll say this though and I'll put it in caps. AS OF NOW, BEYONCE IS THE BADDEST FEMALE IN THE GAME. Thank You.

Jay-Z, ALicia Keys and.....LIL MAMA ?!?


(Jay's face: This B*tch just ruined my performance
Alicia's face: What's she doing up here?
Lil Mama' face: Damn I screwed up )

Now this pissed me off!! Jay-Z and Alicia Keys had to probably be the most anticipated performance of the night. Jay made his his entrance Alicia Keys had her piano, lookin beautiful as always and at that moment everything had seemed to be okay. Before the song could finish. Lil Mama took it upon herself to jump on stage during Jays performance. The look on Jays face wasn't half near as priceless as the motions he gave to her to get off the stage. As they ended the show with this pose she ended with them as well and ruined the vibe of their performance. I got especially madd because MTV hired her as a judge for ABDC and she pulled crap like that. Very un lady like and very childish. I hope she learned a lesson as well!!

College

Whoa it's September and boy did time fly. I started my first week of college on the eighth and my week has indeed been pretty fulfilled. For those of you who don't know I am attending Brookdale Community College for my first two years or so and I plan to transfer out to a university. So as I arrived on the campus grounds needless to say I was very nervous. I was anxious to see what kind of professors I would have, the students, and most importantly the syllabus of the classwork requirements. However I found everything pretty suitable for the most part. All of my professors are really cool and although there is a lot of work, I am prepared to tackle these challenges successfully. I was suprised to find that I'd have classes with my best friend Antonio, and my friend Shataya. I even made a few new friends who seemed to be pretty amiable as well. With that stated I must now share with you which professors I am extremely excited to have a classes with. My HUDV professor Yessnia Madas is really nice. She is a hip Latina who has quite some accredited knowledge under her belt. I know that she will help me sculpt the path in which I want to take my career with the degree I receive. Another professor I like is Carra. I don't even know her last name because she doesn't require us to address her by it. She actually puts me in the atmosphere that of my tenth grade teacher Ms. Doran. They are so much alike its fascinating. However, the most compelling of the group I would have to say would be my Political Science professor Dr. Tom Cioppa. When he walked in the room he demanded our attention with humor and charisma. He has a great personality, and his class seems like it has much to offer. His course even offers an internship that I however can not participate in due to lack of finances. Depsite that I am so excited for his class and can't wait to gain some political insight this semester. I must admit that there is a lot of assignments and I must learn how to juggle that between my job and my social life. Nonetheless I am totally prepared for it. I am willing to work hard and prepare myself for a university, and even graduate school. I honestly desire to become a lawyer right now. So with that being said I am happy with my choice of schooling and can't wait to see how everything works out. With hard work, detirmination and God, I know I can do it.