Random Pics~"This Is My Oakland"

 

 The Claremont Hotel

 This is 'My Oakland'... and even though the city continues to receive a 'bad rap'.  Many people don't understand why we 'want' to live here. Well, I need to do better to showcase my beautiful city. Here is just a few pics. Not very good photos, but I will do better going forward... 'I hella love Oakland'..  :-)

  The Claremont Hotel

 The Mormon Temple

.. I HATE To Get Mad, But When I Do....

Eyes of fire, looks of steel
man, it can really get real
Why do folks wanna 'test my cool'
okay keep playing for a fool... I can't be held responsible
Especially when you KNOW my triggers
but I guess you figure
I'll just do this ONE thing, she won't even know
that I'm coming for her throat.

Whoo Saaahh coming on strong
let me hold on to my.. sanity
Just for the life of me
Don't bring out the worse in me

*Just an off the cuff poem, to let off some steam*

....No One Is Untouchable

There's been a lot of buzz lately regarding the robbery that 2Chainz was involved in. I saw comments about how he and his folks ran from the robbers. I'm trying to understand what people expected him to do. Just because he is a rapper, he is supposed to be 'HARD' and what, fight the bad guys off like he's Super Man?  And then he stated that he was NOT robbed, but as I was in the middle of this blog, someone posted THIS!

'This is some shit!!'

Okay, so he was robbed.  Yes, people are getting robbed in the Bay Area. In broad daylight no less. Men, women, and CHILDREN. This in NOT a game!
But what has really got me was; I saw that Young Jeezy was in the 'town' yesterday. He was posted up on Instagram 'straight flexin' in the Bay. Picture taking all through the 'hood'. Okay good for him. But then to post comments taking 'shots' at 2Chainz saying; "this is how you do it, 'BayLove'.. ect.. Man, this is out of control!! I don't know why ANYONE would think they are above being robbed in this day and time.  These young cats have no regard for anyone except themselves.  If they seen a opportunity, they are gonna take, and it doesn't matter to them WHO you are.

'It Was Sorta Like, Having Two Grandmas

 Happy Birthday Cornelia and Carmelia

or 'Lil Piece' and 'Big Piece'

Today would have been my maternal grandmother's birthday.  Well, not only her's but her twin as well. Since they were identical and sometimes hard to tell apart, it felt like I had two grandmas growing up. Looking at old pics of them and hearing the stories they played on people, it was fun to watch the two of them together. I could tell them apart in person, but I would stare at those old pictures and try to pic out MY grandma.  Sometimes I would be right, it got easier as I grew older. Hell, sometimes even they would argue over who was who in a picture. Funny! They would often show up to family events dressed alike, and everyone would be amazed to learn they didn't plan it in advance. And even though I grew up around all of my cousins, I feel like I have a special connection with my cousins that have one of the 'twins' for a grandma.. I be like, "This my cousin, our grandma's were TWINS!" I don't know, just something about it. They would have been 89 today. May their beautiful souls rest in peace.  I know you two are watching over all of us. I love you both, but especially my Grandma!

'We Tell ALL Our Business Nowadays'....

Gone are the days when certain things weren't discussed in open company. I remember when it wasn't  cool to tell every thought that crossed your mind.  While we might have 'claimed' a certain political party, most of the time it was understood that you didn't ask someone 'who you voting for'. Now maybe due to social media, it has become customary to openly discuss who you are voting for, why, what day and time; AND you gonna post a pic to PROVE that you actually did it. LOL
  What happened to the unwritten law that said you weren't supposed to tell what your specific political ideal were. Those days are gone.  And since we do have the ability to communicate any and EVERY thought that comes to mind; some people are experiencing a sort of back-lash. In this day and time we need to keep in mind that everyone has the right to their own opinion. Some are going to share those opinions more that others, but when they do... let's not fall into the trap of taking the person's stance so personal.  Just like you have the right to choice, so do they.

It Sure Is Easy To Be Judgmental on Twitter....

Watching TV has become more interesting thanks to twitter.  Most times it's fun to read other people thoughts as they watch the same program. But last night I saw a lot of judgement, and it got me to thinking.  People sure are BRAVE on twitter.  I understand that some people are more outspoken than others, but I bet half the tweets would NEVER be said to that person's face. 
 Last night was VH1's Behind the Music with Toni Braxton.  I saw more than one person tweeting things that I considered to be very judgmental.  Now it didn't help that Toni put 'Mother O' on blast, so that might have cost her any chance at sympathy.  But once she put out there that Oprah (in her opinion) was the reason her music career took a dive, all bets were off.  I just think it is easy to sit in judgement of someone else life, when you haven't gone through what they have. She's not the only artist to suffer from a bad business deal, nor is she the first to file for bankruptcy  The saddest part of all was about her illness.  Until you've had to deal with a MAJOR set-back like that; you have NO IDEA what that fight is like. Not to mention, we have all made bad decisions in our life, some more obvious than others, but before you sit in judgment; walk a block in their shoes... then tweet about THAT!!

It's not easy to 'Keep it Classy'...

   One of my daughters get's a kick out of calling me 'classy'. I think it's a compliment, but I wasn't quiet sure what she meant by it so it made me wonder what was the opposite (slang word) for classy. I gather it must be 'ghetto' or 'keepin it real'.  You know how folks go all bad=they 'keeping it real/ghetto'. Now, for the most part, I do try to maintain a certain amount of composure, especially since it is in my nature to fly off the handle,  but since I am human, there have been times when I didn't and I let the worse part of me take over.  The key element of 'being classy' is to NOT allow myself to be put in certain situations.  If I know there is a chance I might not be able to keep it together, I'm not going go.  Unfortunately, I have missed out on some potential good times, but not sure if the gamble would have been worth it.  I know at times it may have seemed that I didn't care or was unsympathetic to those around, but for the most part I was trying to 'keep it classy'. I pride myself on being the 'bigger person' even when it makes me look like the bad guy.  I have too much at stake to risk my dignity and freedom especially over some bull shiii... *wait, did that sound 'classy'? *shrugs*

I saw this re-tweet  and I thought it was a good way to explain it.

*"In every situation in Life there's always a higher way to deal with it." #UntetheredSoul #SuperSoulSunday~Ms. Oprah via @3LWTV (Lonnell Willams) AKA 'OwnAmbassador'