Deidra from Jumping Tandem asked over at her blog yesterday “where have you seen God lately?” And not a few hours after reading that I was at my niece Maddie’s preschool moving up ceremony surrounded by Joy and for me the spirit of God. Just click the link below and look at this radiant, beautiful, funny, fearless face singing her heart out and I dare you not to smile. (Oh and the boy next to her is so not having it. LOL)

They Are The World

Best,

Kwana

What’s Jack up to? Poor Jack is a sad dog today. He had Nana over for 5 days and now she’s gone back home to the city and without him in her carry all. Sorry Jack she’ll be back with sneaky treats soon.

 Hello folks did you miss me? I missed you all during my week long blog break.

Though I missed you all it was nice to take a little break. This was still a busy week for me with the dear twins taking finals but today, the first day of summer, is their last so please wish them luck with me. Fingers crossed all goes well.

And I was lucky to have Nana over for quite a few days during my break and that was wonderful. She and I cooked (ok her mostly). We played lots of games of cards and planted my Impatients (you know the flower named after me).

So here I am dipping my toe back in the blog water and saying hi on the first day of Summer. Hopefully the water will be good.

Happy Summer!! Roll call…who’s with me? How are you spending the first day of Summer?

Best,

Kwana

What’s Jack up to? Like me Jack is dog tired from all the B-day partying.

I want to say thank you all so much for the outpouring of love here, on Twitter and on Facebook for my birthday wishes. You all make facing birthdays so much easier.

I had a very nice birthday weekend filled with family and friends. After giving the DH a hard time for organizing a family BBQ for me on Saturday it turned out to be so much fun. I woke up today with a hangover and I didn’t have 1 drink of liquor. I think I am drunk off food and laughter.  How can everyone in a family be so competitive over cards? I tell you from Nana on down, it’s really scary.

We are all such sore losers and talk so much crap. But in the end we take it all in good cheer; I mean how can you talk about someone’s mama when you have the same mama? And it turns out that even though my brother and I seem so very different in some things we are truly the same. That was nice to find out.

And as I sweet topper I got these beautiful flowers from the DH which surprisingly (and not by accident) have the peach color from our wedding over 20 years ago. How much do I love him for that?

All in all it was a fab way to turn the page on another chapter in my life.

Best,

Kwana

What’s Jack up to? Jack has been so good for me lately while I’m busy working that I’m almost scared to talk about it in fear that he”ll hear and start to act all Jack like so… Shhh… don’t tell him I’m talking about him on ye old blog today. And don’t look him directly in the eye. That’s when the trouble starts.

I hope Mother’s Day was good for all you moms out there. I went to Harlem to surprise my mom at her church and picked up Nana on the way. Here is a pic of the 3 of us along with my DD. Sorry it’s blurry it was snapped by my lil brother with his Crackberry. It was wonderful to have 4 generations together for Mother’s day.

Happy Monday!

Best,

Kwana

What’s Jack up to? The Jackster is doing fine. He’s spent most of the weekend being his own demanding self and giving me this look which says can you get off your butt and get me a treat or something lady? This is usually following by an impolite nudge.

Here are a few pics from my weekend.

Cocktail meatballs simmering for Nana’s Birthday get together and Pokeno game. Can you say Shweaty Balls?

And deviled eggs. Does anybody make them anymore? I do!

Then the game at Nana’s so much fun. We haven’t played in ages. When I was a kid Nana and her friends would play cards until the wee hours of the morning. Now it was the next generation’s turn and only one of Nana’s old friends (Mrs. G) got to come up to the apartment. We were all so glad to see her since she had not been well and was out of the hospital. She was so happy to play cards and party like the old days that she stayed up talking with Nana and closed the party at 2am!

I hope you have a lovely week.

Best,
Kwana

We had the storm of the millennium on Thursday pics of which you saw from Thursday night over here. Well, here is a little slideshow from Friday morning. This pictures were taken from my bedroom window (Jack and I had finished our walk and were done with the snow).

As you can see the DD did a small about of car clearing and then the call of the snow angles was just too hard to resist. I hope your March brings calmer weather. We’ve had enough of down trees and power outages thank you very much. And now today is by surprise another snow day so no school. *groan* Oh and the pink eye has flared up again *double groan*
No use complaining. It is what it is. Enjoy the show.

Best,
Kwana

Kwana and DH in Mexico a very long time ago

Love always and forever,
K

P.S. To all my friends and visitors. Thanks for sharing the love with us today.

What’s Jack up to? He is so needing a bath. It’s all rainy so that’s strike #1 against that bath deal. Also I don’t have the energy so that’s strike #2. And as for strike #3 see #2.

I don’t talking about my writing all that much here, well, maybe I do I don’t know where I am on the narcissistic writer scale but today I’m talking… a bit. It’s part of the story.
There are times when life gives you signs to keep pushing forward. A confirmation of sorts.

One of my stories, book, novels whateves that I’m looking to sell is a YA (young adult) in which the heroine takes up gambling in order to save for the college of her dreams and in order to get money for her grandmother’s mounting medical bills when she shows signs of Alzheimer’s.

As a writer (well any type of artist) you put a bit of yourself out there with every submission. And yes. You know it’s all subjective and you keep that in mind but still you can’t help that twist in your gut every time you hit send and with every bit of feedback you get in return. It takes a lot to keep putting yourself out there day after day.

The other day I went to the doctor for a routine visit. Now my doctor has a lot of elderly patients that use his practice. I’m not sure why this is since he’s about 40-ish, but he does. Well, I’m in the waiting room wondering if I’ll get a flu shot, ouch (I did) when an elderly couple comes in along with a younger (about my age) woman. Now the older woman was, this is the only way I can describe it, full of piss and vinegar. She just about cracked me up walking in saying just how I felt about being there.

Lady loudly and not happy: Why do I have to come so far?
Husband: It’s not that far.
Lady: Well too far too me. They should make house calls.
Husband: Nobody makes house calls anymore. You’re not going to find that.
They both sit.
Husband: Well, you don’t have to come back for 3 months.
Lady: I’m not coming back!

I’m thinking I hear ya, Lady.

The younger woman comes up after giving their info to the front desk and stands in front of the couple. She has a gentle way and starts to talk about someone calling the lady.

Lady: He doesn’t have to call me every day!
Husband: Shhh… Please don’t be so loud.
Lady: Don’t Shhh me!
Younger woman: Mom I thought you’d just like to see how he is. He’s doing so well and loves to speak with you.
Lady looking up at the younger women: Now softly: Are you my daughter?

My heart wretches and I start to blink fast. Must keep back the tears.

Younger woman softly and with so much love: Yes, Mom I’m your daughter.

I think of my book and what the granddaughter does to get the overpriced meds for her grandmother to keep her Alzheimer’s at bay. I’m still submitting and tweaking the story. Anything to make it even better. Anything to get it out there. Health care is so important. Love is so vital. Perseverance is life.

Best,
Kwana