About A Nightmare

I was asleep. It was around 4 in the morning. I was laying on my stomach all comfortable when suddenly I felt a presence in the room. I started to jump up but I couldn't move. Then a man laid on top of me. All I could see was his dark shadow from the corner of my eye. In my mind I thought to myself: "Get off me!" I tried to voice it but the sound would not come out of my mouth. Something was stopping the sound. His cheek was pressed to mine. I remembered this had happened before. The first time it ocured I was 25 and married home alone late at night. He just stood over me that time. He has since grown bolder. My ex had just left for work. When I woke up and saw noone in the room, back then, I was terrified but this time I was calm. I spoke to him in my spirit, "I am not afraid of you." I tried to look back but couldnt, his body was heavy on top of me. He felt like a 250 pound mass. However, I could tell he was tall and lean and seems like he had a hat on, like those hats detectives wear in the old cop shows with the trench coats but I could not decipher who he was.It was a dark figure, black as night. I could feel his hatred for me. When I finally managed to look back just a little I saw a long pointy nose and the corner of a downturned mouth. I repeated again in my spirit "I am not afraid" and suddenly the weight lifted from my back and the man was gone. I was able to sit up; I jumped out of my bed and looked around my room...and no one was there...I spoke, "Hello" into the night. My voice had returned and I was relieved. Then I sat down and thought about everything that happened and I came to the conclusion that that night the devil had come for me. I believe it to be true; it was the devil. It was a long, pointy nosed devil. I am almost sure of it.

To My People In The Struggle...(repost)

If I was to tell you that you are something special, would you agree with me?

Maybe you would smile and say, "I know" but in your mind you'd think, "I guess".

Baby, look at these words and believe it in your heart; YOU ARE SOMETHING SPECIAL.

There is not another like you. You are a Queen, (A Prince), A Diamond, a Jewel. You are more valuable to this world than the Sun. You are a great friend, lover and confidant.

I think you should know it.

Today is not just another day. Today is a blessing to you. It is your gift for being who you are.

You CAN get the job. You CAN lose the weight. You can make him/her happy. You can impress your boss. You can and you will. Here is your renewal of strength. Rise up and take it.

You are something. You are something else. Dang, You are something special. You are off the chain. As a matter of fact, Girl (or Dude) you are Da Bomb! Go ahead, pop your collar. Shake them haters off! Do whatever you have to do. The DREAM is yours and you will LIVE it. The gift is yours and you MUST give it! Don't you see? Don't you feel it? It is your time. The time is now!

Your prime is now. You are indeed a sight to behold. Don't be afraid of you. You are a leader! You are #1. You can and you will be___________________.

Tadah! your dreams are reality if you only believe.

Movie Quotes; The Great Debaters

Who is the judge?

The judge is God.

Why is he God?

Because he decides whether I win or lose, not my opponent.

Who is your opponent?

He doesn't exist.

Why does he not exist?

Because he is just a mere dissenting voice to the truth I speak.

I'm feeling green this morning....

Career Writers Association is going to be doing big things this summer.
I will send out emails to notify you of events and contest in the near future. You can also check out http://www.careerwriters.net for updates. We are here to be a light, so let's shine! Below is your CWA Tip of the week. Enjoy!

CWA Tip of the Week: Recycle that junk! Go GREEN!
With a new baby I have accumulated so many plastic Similac containers. I have no idea why I started collecting them but now I have a trash bag full. I thought to myself...what should I do with all these containers...reuse them...maybe make storage out of them...but what could I store in something so small...spare change? sugar? flour? well, whatever I store I would have to wash the containers out first...take off the labels and find a place to stack them...
all of that didn't seem like it would ever happen...You know how you plan to do something with the junk in your house but you never get around to it and the stuff just stays there forever? Well, these containers have been collected over three months... then it hit me...Why don't I recycle them? I mean it's not hard and

I could help the environment or even make a little cash! So I started searching online...

I typed in "recycle plastic, dallas area, TX" and wallah! tons of sites appeared.

Listed below are a few of the ones I really liked.

Woohooh! I'm going green!

I am going to drop my plastics off today,
I hope you, too, will join me!

Recycle Sites in Dallas:
http://www.dallascityhall.com/sanitation/dropoff_locations.html

http://texas.uscity.net/Recycling_Centers/

http://www.timetorecycle.com/residential/program_details.asp?citycode=1085


Sundra Michelle "Sun" Smith
http://www.careerwriters.net

Even Angels Learn How to Fly

This song was right on time. I am so sad today but Fantasia sang on the Monique Show, "Even Angels Learn How to Fly" and it made me cry but also encouraged me.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Even Angels lyrics

Michelle at the Governor's Ball

Isnt she lovely?

What I've been Reading/Writing Lately - This Weeks Assignment: Get Ready. Get Set. Get Writing! on BrightFuse - A Talent Community

What I've been Reading/Writing Lately - This Weeks Assignment: Get Ready. Get Set. Get Writing! on BrightFuse - A Talent Community

TODAYS ASSIGNMENT:

Write one paragraph that answers the question: "What is Love?"

Remember: There are no right or wrong answers. This is about learning and not a competition. Show your unique writing style; everybody has one.

Remember: A paragraph is 5 to 7 sentences with one main idea.
Please submit your one paragraph essay by Feb. 28, 2009 for an educational critique.

The first writer who posts their essay will receive an appreciation award from CWA, http://www.careerwriters.net

YAY!!! Sotomayor finally has a seat at the justice table!

Hooray Sotomayor has finally been confirmed! Yay for OBAMA!

"The Senate confirmed Sonia Sotomayor Thursday as the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court. The vote was 68-31 for Sotomayor, President Barack Obama's first high court nominee. She becomes the 111th justice and just the third woman to serve."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_sotomayor_senate

This is a small step for man but a giant leap for equality regardless of color.

Question of the week; Are some names too "ghetto"?

Let's be honest. I'm not calling out any names but some... names sound like they are straight from the hood. Is this okay or not?
Please cast your vote in the survey. And add a comment if you'd like. Thanks!

I LOVE MICHAEL JACKSON!!!

All I have to say is USHERS and CHRIS BROWNS can be manufactured in studios everyday but there will never ever be another MIChAEL JACKsON!! He was the most unique star. period. he created his own style. dance. look. image. life. he had a heart of gold. They tried to destroy him but GREATNESS can not be destroyed. MJ was timeless. he will be greatly missed but I sincerely think he is in a better place now. I can imagine all the little children in heaven running to him as he arrives. He would never hurt a child. He was a child himself. He had mental problems. He never got to be a child as a child so he chose to be one as an adult. I understood Michael Jackson. I am so glad he can rest now and not be tortured by accusers and defamation. I pray in heaven he loves himself. That was his number one issue; he hated his looks but little did he know it never mattered what he looked like on the outside because inside he was pure and he was beautiful inside and he did so much for the children and entertainers of this world..

Wendy Williams v. Oprah

Looks like Wendy Williams has gotten the "go ahead" on airing her show. It will go into syndication early July after a successful test run last summer. She says she is going after Oprah for the Queen of daytime crown.

Well, she airs at 11 and O airs at 4p Central time so I don't think either of them have anything to fret about. Another thing is Oprah is more classy and marketed toward older surburban housewives. While Wendy's show is more like the old Arsenio Hall with a boughetto swag added in. It will be watched by a younger audience, like say teenish to 20 something and a few 30ish ladies with nothing better to do.

Wendy is very catty in the following clip, however. I hope she does not end up getting beat up on her own show. She has a very smart mouth. She is very nice to the studio audience but she gets really rude and blunt with her guests. With a face like hers I can't believe she would even start criticizing others.

Watch this! It's hilarious!

PreOrders of My 1st Book...

CAREER WRITERS ASSOCIATION

The Journey: The Battle of the Inauguration Gates

The Journey: The Battle of the Inauguration Gates

Never look down!

People, people, people they real influence who we become. As maturity reaches your cerebral cortex it changes who you are and makes you see things differently.

Your scope, your viewpoint widens and things that used to be crucial to you suddenly do not matter as much. A dear friend once explained to me "there is no one more important than you." That means you have to take care of you.

YOU MATTER.

There is no one else in this WHOLE world exactly like you. Your opinion counts. You life counts. You are valid just because YOU ARE. You are here and breathing. It is amazing to see people walk around everyday groaning and complaining about life. Sometimes you just have to say; thank GOD I am still breathing.

Inhale.....Hold it...Hold it....Now, Exhale. See you have the power. Your power lies in taking total control of yourself and knowing there is no one who can be a better you than you. It is imperative that we value our lives and keep everything moving on a positive level. Fears lead to doubt, impatience, jealousy, even hatred.

F
E
A
R

is the father of all evil. FEAR has no place in your life (unless it is the fear of God's wrath...) FEAR most of the time is unhealthy and irrational.

No matter what your FEAR is, if you know in your heart of hearts that your intentions are pure and your life is positively uplifting others, nothing will be able to stop your blessings from reaching you, NOTHING. NO THING. No THING. Not a thing can stop a person who has a plan PLANTED in

L
O
V
E.

Don't look down. Don't watch your back. Dont look down. Look up and all the answers are there to be found.

Amen For Family!

I am riding now in a Dodge minivan with my mother and two aunts. We ventured out to Arizona and California and visited relatives. Relatives that I had not seen since childhood. It' s an amazing blessing to reach back and explore your roots and see the faces of those who came before us. I could see the resemblances n the faces of my aunts, Ollie, Tossie and Rebecca to my late grandmother, Willie Mae and I could see the facial expressions and disposition that we all carry with us..and most importantly I saw, through them, a better understanding of myself. Newsflash: My attitude problem is inherited.

The tendency to talk and laugh to no end is in my blood as a Smith, and a Jones...(a Woods too). It is so good to know people are waiting on you, cherishing you, making room for you , thinking of you from miles away. It is just evident to the fact that our lives matter. We matter to somebody. Our names are on someones lips every now and then and how we are doing makes a difference. It really does.

To look in the eyes of our relative who hold their heads high and speak like elitist and hold the bible deep in their souls...tells me a lot. To see Uncle Sunny laughing and joking telling story after story about friends, his late wife and others even while he suffers from cancer, is quit telling. To hear of Uncle David's love for Uncle Sunny and to see people's face light up with the mention of certain names, is delightful. We are a happy people...but also "messy". We are softhearted. We are strong. We are outspoken, loud and always on time with social graces and hospitality. To see the little girl, Reagan who is now a beautiful teenager, when the last time I saw her she was only about 2 feet tall and asking for chicken nuggets, is a joy. We can talk, sing and pray on and on and on and on...I really had a nice trip. I know what to do with my 2009 now. I have been giving the key. God has given me the key to happiness. Hapiness is in appreciating whole heartedley where you are, where you came from and (definitely) where you are going! Also Id like to say the bottom line s LOVE heals all wounds ALL wounds...Amen!

At last...

This is the day that the Lord has made...

On the pulse of the morning I see a new dawn
A new new day has finally come on

I am so elated
I can hardly find words
I am crying this moment
I am indeed unnerved
Its a special time
Its a joyous hour
I cannot believe Barack Obama has been given this power
His wife is Michelle Wow she is as black as me
And those sweet little girls Sasha and Malia

I cant believe it. Is it a dream?
Is it real?
I can barely describe the way I feel

It's been a long time coming
It's been a long time coming
But CHANGE is finally here

I see you smiling. Obama, Oh joy!
Your grandmother blessed you when you were a boy
You are so pleasant, so cool, so wise
I see a beautiful future for America in your eyes
You are such an inspiration
Such a melody of peace
A smile so promising
A word so sweet
I am almost breathless
I have been giving an unthinkable wish

I never thought it would happen
Truly I never imagined this

A sweet sweet victory for democrats, for Black people, for America, for the world
The red white and blue of the flag unfurls
For you, For us, For the dream

In DC. Full Capacity. Many smiling faces. In awe. Black&White. Goodness abounds.

I haven't written a poem in a very long time
But today this is the best way to let you know what is in my mind
I am so elated
I am so happy
So surprised
God has orchestrated this day to come at this time
In honor of my grandmother
In honor of the slaves
The sharecroppers
The soldiers
The lives lost
The Katrina victims
The September 11 victims
The fire fighters
The Red Cross
In honor of all the families who have suffered or lost
This one is for you

I am so glad to have you Obama
President Obama
Thank you restoring hope to the hopeless
You are so pleasant, so cool, so wise
I see a beautiful future for America in your eyes

Welcome, Obama family!
This one is for you
This is not a dream...It's a dream come true

Happy New Year!!!

I hope my bad days are all a thing of the past. I hope you and your family come to realize how wonderful you are and appreciate each other everyday. It's Obama Year yall! I know this year we are going to learn so many new and exciting things! Whew! I learned so much in 2008. I learned that before a person can find love from others they must first accept and love their family. I also learned that patience is the key...for real. If you are not patient there is so much you can miss out on. I also realized some things...

*Real Love is not always romantic
*The truth is liberating although costly
*A job cannot be your all and all
*Nothing on earth can make you happy, it comes from within
*God is not playing when he says he will be there for you
*Respect is paramount in a relationship
*Your words can ruin or save you
*People are so different but everyone desires to be loved & accepted
*The simple things in life are more valuable than diamonds
*It is better to smile than cry
*Changing your mind, will change your finances
*Effective Communication is most important
*Emotional stability trumps Financial stability
*You are the most important, nobody else can love you like you can
*Being happy is a necessity not an option
*Everything is possible as long as you BELIEVE

In this new year, 2009, I vow to put Sun first. Here is a message a stranger sent me:
"May in incoming year reflect the brightness of your name.
So powerful in radiance that it over shadows the turbulence of yesterday through the seconds of the morning. Awaken with a smile, knowing you bring a newness of life".

Isn't that amazing?

This year I will also change my wardrobe;

*No more boot cut jeans; (been wearing em' since I was 14..enough is enough)
*Pumps are a must. All colors. solid blk, purple, red, silver, etc.
*Everything I wear will make a statement and be cute in some shape or form

Last but not least, I will "do me" which I have found out from deep analytical research...it means to do what makes me ME. I am unique and I know what I enjoy so no matter how fly or intelligent someone else is, I must have my own thing going on...make myself happy...and to me, that is what being beautiful is all about.

Don't you agree?

Someone asked What holds teachers back from doing what's needed and I replied...

What holds us back from doing what's needed? US. In todays education system there is an emphasis on regulation, test scores and protocol. Some teachers know the school is sinking fast but they don't want to "rock the boat' and speak out against it in an effective manner.

On the other hand (I see the problem on both sides of the coin) I get so sick of all these movies about super hero teachers who changed the mental capacity and structure of their schools. The movies give you the notion that being a renegade is easy and those of us who teach like regular people are fearful and brainless conformist. Well the truth is...it is hard to be a leader in the education system nowadays. The administration will get rid of you. They will write you up. They will outcast you and make your life hell just for trying to be innovative and creative in your classroom.

They want every teacher to teach their children the same way and they judge your performance based on state mandated exams. These exams are not even a part of the curriculum or text books they provide. I can be a super hero in the classroom. Sure, I can make a difference. I do make a difference.

A lot of times though it calls for teachers spending their own money making that difference and their own time. I work 80 hrs a week as a teacher. The resources are low. We have 120 kids on our rosters but they only provide an extra $200 a school year for supplies. The kids refuse to bring school supplies with them. They refuse to do Homework. The parents are at work. Everything is put on the teacher's shoulders. I have 10th graders who read on a 3rd grade level. I have 12th graders who don't know how to write a research paper (or even a paragraph). Yes, I can be a super hero teacher but what will they gain in the small amount of time I have them if they will not reinforce what they learn at home...with homework.

Some of my students don't even see books until they come to school. Teachers can improve their attentiveness and be more personally involved with their students...but there are 120 of them and they refuse to come to tutoring. Many kids have lives that do not support the demands education can place on ones life. You can be nice. You can be strict. You can be in between but if the motivation to learn and the importance of learning has not been instilled in them at home, you are wasting your time. The best thing we can do is train the parents to be better parents. The next thing we can do is restructure the entire education system. Get rid of the desks and get work stations. Get rid of the dry erase boards and use LCD screens and pointers that can write directly on the screen. This is 2008 and the education system and schools are still structured like they were in the 6os. If you drop a rose into a pile of horse manure to do a job don't be surprised if, after a while, the rose starts smelling like horse manure. No matter how great a teacher you are the ineffective nature and nurture of the environment in which you work will have a bigger voice.

All we can do is push on. Some teachers are doing the best they can but their test scores still stink. The morale of the students still stink. The class average still stinks. Teaching has become a frustrating endeavor with little rewards. Criticism comes from "experts" with no vested interest in the teacher. All teachers are completely different. Everyone needs individual accommodations in order to reach their full potential. Just like the students the teachers need one on one time with people who ACTUALLY care. We can all help; Teachers, Administration, Parents, Students and Community to stop the reeking of this mess we have created.
The rose smells like horse crap and whose fault is it? You be the judge.

I have seen the Mountain Top

I am satisfied with the election. But I think everyone is just waiting for the shock to wear off or for some Fox news Expose' to come out causing us to change our minds about our new Pres. They say When things seem too good to be true, they probably are. But it seems that this is really real; Obama is really in there-all the way. Democrats reign again!! ...Right?

Can we really have our cake and eat it too ? Can we really have the lighthearted, fortune-filled days of Bill Clinton all over again? Can we really live in the sky like Obama makes us feel?

Well, I am quite afraid but, just in case, I have dug HOPE out of storage and I have sent my old wings to the dry cleaners...