Trust me, I do this for a living!

Can your baby do this???
I didn't think so! Pictured in this photo is my daughter, (at the time 7 months old). She was participating in a swim program called ISR (Infant Swim Resource) a program that teaches children ages 6mo.- 6 years old how to survive if they ever find themselves in water that they can not stand in.
Swimming is a skill I believe EVERYONE should have. At the very least one should be able to stay afloat long enough to be rescued or move toward a solid object to hold onto...
So many people are afraid of the water. Especially in the black community. I can not tell you how many people (of many races) I've encountered that say, "Well I just never go near the water, my mamma never let us go as kids cause she couldn't swim." I just don't understand! You bathe don't you?
Then you have those who don't want to get their hair wet. Lord forbid you have to wash that nappy shit for a change! Braid it up and charge it to the game...
And the best one I've heard to date... "I drowned when I was a kid." LIKE HELL, you drowned! How the fuck did you drown and you standing here to tell me about it? Didn't happen! If you drown you will be hauled away on a stretcher with the white sheet over you. You may have had a near drowning experience (which also in most cases I doubt) and that's fine, but shouldn't you want to ensure that it never happens again? Or at the very least allow your child to learn from your unfortunate situation in a controlled and safe environment and IMPROVE by giving them a life skill that could not only save thier life, but also open up countless educational and JOB opportunities for them? Or is that too much like right?
People, all I'm saying is EDUCATE YOURSELVES! We fear that which we do not know...so go find that shit out! Its not hard.
If anybody out there hears me...and is or knows someone in need of water safety instruction in AL or GA. Contact me via twitter @haking or email. haking_3@yahoo.com . I will be more than happy to assist in finding you the help you need!
You can also contact your local Red Cross chapter or health clubs in your area.
End rant!

Late nights...

Nights like this... I I wish...raindrops would fa a a a aalll...
No, seriously though. I've gotten accustomed to spending my nights sans a bed partner... It gets easier as time goes by, but some nights you just wish you had somebody there to fill the space. Sadly, tonight is one of those nights.
So here I lay watching this poker tournament (more like its watching me) and looking at the wall contemplating the world. Where did I go wrong? Who did I piss off for this to be my life?  Where is my forever after?
If I have retained any lessons in life I've learned not to question God and to always listen to my gut THE FIRST TIME! And by knowing these things I know not to second guess myself which is why a conversation I had earlier kind of shook me up a bit. Pissed me off even, yes PISSED, but only for a moment because soon realized it was not worth my energy to be upset any longer.
I was told tonight that I am crazy for not taking up an offer from a past flame to "be a family". Am I? I know not. I was also told that I'm "fucked up" for not giving said past flame yet a third chance to have my heart and that I am holding the past over his head. RIGHT! I mean, okay...maybe you DID change kudos to you...too little too late!
I mean, I appreciate the effort, but now that I have THRICE declined your offer could you please keep it moving? Like, seriously!
I understand that if you are truly sincere in your efforts my rejection may sting a little, but you WILL NOT be MAD at me and go off on a rampage of what a stupid, fucked up person I'm being for, politely even, telling you that I am not interested!
No, sir. You will NOT!
I will not be subjected to your verbal thrashings because you feel wronged that I no longer have the same feelings for you as I did before! Things change. The time for anger has long passed... The time for forward motion is upon us and I wish you would do just that...MOVE THE FUCK ON!
You say you've changed but for the past two years you've done nothing but show me the same old you! And to be frank I don't really like you all that much.
Wow, that just took in a whole different direction than where I intended. I just had to get that off my chest...Thanks for reading...stay tuned for more Sunshiney posts... I promise, they are coming!

The End: When We All Die.

Preface: If you don't find the humor in this in the fact that I am DEAD SERIOUS about every word below, you are probably already dead and this does not apply to you.
 
The day has come! Judgment day, D-Day, when Jesus comes to get us, well, those of us He's taking with Him, The last day of the world- THE BIG ONE- Floods and fire, locusts, frogs, earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, nuclear melt-downs, aliens the whole nine yards!

"What is we gone do?", some may ask...
"How can we stop this disastrous day from occurring? Go to church and get right with the Lord? Call my mom? Go to my local Walmart  and buy up all the water, batteries, and bread I can find?"

Others may need to know, "How can we prepare to Survive this horrible circumstance? What Hero will save us?"  "GO GREEN!", they say. "Plug the hole in the ozone layer; STOP global warming! That'll give us more time!"

There MUST be a way to have an ending like those in the movies like 2012, The Day After Tomorrow, and Independence Day! Some person or GROUP of people must have the answer, RIGHT?

WRONG!!!!!

There is NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING to be done- What CAN you do? Furthermore, WHY would you WANT to do anything about it in the first place? If the WHOLE WORLD is ending today or whenever...and EVERYBODY is going to die anyway- WHY, in the name of sauteed elephant shit, are you trying to live through it and be the only person left on the earth? So you can mate with the only other survivor who happens to be your first cousin and repopulate the Earth? I would certainly hope NOT! GO IN PEACE!!! I mean, really, how bad could it be? You probably won't feel a thing (unless you try to fight it)

It's not like you will leave people behind who will miss you or you will miss all your loved ones when they are gone and be sad, because... NEWSFLASH: THEY'RE DEAD TOO!

STOP trying to be a hero and just let the world end already- The way it was intended to! IF YOU MUST DO SOMETHING...Try this:

Get your affairs in order with whichever Higher Power it is you identify with whom you believe will save your poor mortal soul to secure your spot wherever it is you would like to spend the rest of eternity after the inevitable occurs! 

And that's all I have to say about that! 

Let's Talk About... SEX!!!

My very first Blog post. I'm excited. Any feedback, comments, or concerns are welcomed and appreciatied! I hope you enjoy!
Sex. Everyone is doing it, right? Two (or more) consenting adults getting together to "do it", these days, is not such a big deal, right?
Everybody does it so what's the fuss about, right? Getting out there and getting some should be a piece if cake... or at least one would think, but let's take a step back and look at an angle I never explored until I was faced with the issue of finding a NEW sex partner after ending a long-term monogamous committed relationship.
Now, some of you might say, "Helen, you are an attractive, young vixen. You should have no problem finding a man to be with in bed." True as that may be, most women in this situation (including myself) don't want just any man. Even if he is only to serve a physical purpose. There are a few SPEED BUMPS before a woman (or man) on the road to finding "The One". To have sex with, that is.

1. Finding a new partner is NOT like picking a new flavor of ice cream.
Oh, if only it could be so simple...
Whenever I go to Coldstone, TCBY, or some other similar venue I petty much know what I want, but when I get inside I almost ALWAYS sample at least two other flavors just to be sure or if there is something new I've yet to try. Apply this practice to finding a lover and there is no certainty of what you might get except a trip around the block or two and a name for yourself before you finally find "The One". Its not very becoming of anyone to go around trying sex partners like the flavor of the week!

2. If you know me, you know that Drake is FAR from my favorite rapper, but he said it best. "How you supposed to find the one when anyone will come with you?" Even apart from being in a relationship...and to add to that... How am I supposed to get with someone when a lot of these SOMEONES out here will get with ANYONE? You know what they say, "When you sleep with someone you sleep with everyone they have ever slept with." That's a hard pill to swallow, but brings me to my final point and question...

3. Who are you doing? We are all adults here so let's be real who is NOT having sex (at some point) these days? You finally found "The One". You've been out of the game for months, looking...and you found them. But what about this person whom you have decided to be intimate with? Since EVERYBODY is doing it- Who are they doing it with? Is it more than one person? And now that they are "The One" will you also be that to them? Is that too much to ask outside of the confines of a committed relationship, sexual monogamy? Or is it too much to ask, if you decide to enter into a sexually polygamous relationship, who else is involved and when (not in complete detail, but in general time frame). One has the right to know, right? I would sure hope so...
Or does that even work? Being sexually exclusive without having a romantic relationship. Ponder on that and let me know what you guys think!