PAST EXPERIENCES + FUTURE ASPIRATIONS = JOURNEY OF LIFE

A friend sent me his quote of the day: "Don't let your past steer your future... It will lead to a dead end."
Hmmmm.... I don't quite agree. The past doesn't have to define the future. It does, however, help to form how and why we act, behave and perform as work towards the future. As we've all heard before, you've got to know where you've been, to know where you're going. Understanding your past and the lessons taught through experience, can certainly help in the future. Those experiences and lessons learned should serve as a guide or point of reference as to not repeat mistakes again or to even enhance positive events.
So here's my quote: "So that one doesn't repeat mistakes, use the past to help steer a better future leading to many roads of possibilities and opportunities."

REMEBER TO ALWAYS THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK AND BEFORE YOU DO...

Everything you do and say has an affect on someone else and on your own future.... distant or immediate. With that in mind, remember there are four things you can't recover: the stone..... after it's thrown, the word..... after it's said, the occasion.... after it's missed or the time..... after it's gone.
So charish every moment! For no reason at all, do something nice for someone else.... even if it's a simple as holding a door open or smiling. What is a complete inconvenience to you, could make a positive difference in someone else's day.
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

So after years of growing up in front of the world in a famous family and becomimg an icon herself, Janet Jackson is finally coming out of her shell. With her interview on ABC, although still seemingly shy, I think she revealed more than ever before.
I still find it amazing that someone so talented, famous and beautiful, can be just as afraid, guarded and insecure as us regular folks.
It just goes to show that fame and money are not the answers or the cure-all for pain from insecurity. It's easier said than done, I know, but security or happpiness comes from within. It's not about how much you weigh, or how pretty you are or your occupation. Rather it's about intangible things... like how you live your life and how you serve others.

IT'S THE SIMPLE THINGS IN LIFE THAT MEAN THE MOST!

In the famous words of Ice Cube, "Today was a good day!" November 17th, my daughters 18th birthday! I know crazy, right? I can't believe it either! At first I thought, Damn, I'm getting old! But I can say this I am overjoyed and overwhelmed with Suriya! Not only because she's my big baby and I lover her.... and not because Ray Ray has accomplished so much in basketball being one of the best in the country... but because she's a GOOD person! Confident but humble, intelligent but funny, logical but free-spirited, and a champion but always down for the under dog!
Mahatma Ghandi said "Happiness is when what you think, what you do and what you say are in harmony." Well I can honestly say that I am HAPPY! I knew from the momemt I She was born (well actually before that even), that my life would be about providing the best life I could for Suriya. Seems like nothing makes sense without her as my motivation. I honestly believe I'm here on this earth wsa to give her birth! And I couldn't be more honored! Suriya fills my heart in a way that worda can not describe! I AM HAPPY!

LIL WAYNE IS A DADDY AGAIN!

Congratulations to new parents Lil Wayne and R & B singer Nivea, the Dreams ex-wife. She gave birth to her second child, a son, on Saturday. That makes Weezy F. Baby's fourth child ... and his 4TH baby mama as well. (Perhaps that's what the "F." should stand for now... four.)
Now although babies are a blessing, what in the world is Lil Wayne thinking??? Or maybe he's not thinking at all! I remember a couple of years ago when he claimed he was looking to get married and settle down with ONE woman. He even bought an engagement ring and was looking for the right one to give it to. Remember? Well whatever happened to that? Instead he took the lyrics to his Young Money song... "I wish I could f*#! every girl in the world" literally! Why not find "Mrs. Right" instead of "Mrs. Right Now" and build a life and family? Or since he has four baby's mothers, why not chose to be with one of them? He obviously was digging them (no pun intended) enough to have a child with each of them. But not feeling enough for any of them to be with one of them long term? Wow!
Well, now word is he's seeing a new artist on his label, Shanell, sister of D. Woods formerly of Danity Kane. In fact while Nivea was giving birh to their son, Weezy was giving a party for Shanell in the ATL! OMG!
Well its a good thing that he is successful... financially anyway. He's got four different child support payments to make! Gotta pay to play!

CHECK OUT THE STAR TRIBUNE ARTICLE ON MY DAUGHTER!

McGuire picks the U: Miami, not Minnesota
Minneapolis Roosevelt's Suriya McGuire decided she wanted to play out of state.

By DAVID La VAQUE, Star Tribune

Minneapolis Roosevelt senior Suriya McGuire might not be a well-known basketball player locally, but schools around the country lobbied for her skills.

McGuire recently gave the University of Miami (Fla.) a verbal commitment, choosing the Hurricanes over Kansas, Texas Southern and Southern California. The Gophers showed interest, she said, but McGuire had no intention of sticking around.

"I didn't want to stay in Minnesota," she said. "I wanted to move around, see more things and experience life."

McGuire, the No. 16-ranked player in the ESPN HoopGurlz Hundred, is a 5-10 guard who can dribble and penetrate. Bill Larson, who coached McGuire on the North Tartan AAU team, said she has improved her game by developing a more steady outside shooting touch. She averaged 13.3 points per game last season.

"She doesn't have to get to the rim to score anymore," he said.

McGuire's Roosevelt teammate Shakila Boler previously made a verbal commitment to Texas Southern. With two Division I players leading the Teddies this season, McGuire is confident the team will make people take notice.

"People might still look at us as underdogs because we haven't been a dominant team for a while," she said. "But it's really changed. We're going to make a statement, and I think some people are going to be shocked."

Now just in case you didn't know that article is about my daughter... Suriya McGuire! Yes, she is a BALLER! Words can not express how PROUD I am of her for her dedication and hard work! She's constantly working to improve her game! And of course, working hard in the class room as well... which is no easy task being that she has a learning disability. That makes me admire her even more because she never thought of it as a disability.... She thought she just learned differently.
I've always felt, as I've taught her, whatever you do- you get out of it... what you put in it! Its okay to do just enough to get by..... but why not do your best and be the best you can be?

ONE THING FOR SURE CONFIRMED WITH CHRIS BROWN'S AND RIHANNA'S ORDEAL IS VIOLENCE IN NEVER OK

Like just about everyone I'm still shocked that the beat down went down with Chris Brown and Rihanna! It's true that love can be so passionate and so intense that it can be almost obsessive. But violence is NEVER ok! It's not ok for anyone.
There's now a flood of claims on twitter from Chris Browns dancers and such that claim Rihanna was also physically abusive! Now again, whether she was or wasn't violent, it's still unexcusable for Chris to have assaulted her. But if the accusations are true about Ri Ri, that is also WRONG!
One thing for sure is that anger management was definately in order. As well as the court order for C- Bree to stay away from Ri Ri.
Although it is extremely difficult to both experience as well as break the cycle of an abusive relationship... trust me, I know.... its almost a blesssing it happened in the publuc eye. Once others are involved, something has to give! The abuser and victim can not hide in secrecy. Once the "dirty lil secret" is out.... it has to be dealt with due to the fact that under scruitiny all parties involved can be held accountable.

DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE LOUISIANA JUSTICE WHO REFUSED TO WED INTERRRACIAL COUPLES???

Well just yesteday the Louisiana justice of the peace that refused to marry interracial couples resigned! Well..... GOOD! The issue was brought to light when Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace fot Tangipahoa Parish's 8th ward, refused to marry a couple a few weeks ago because the 30 year old bride-to-be is white and her 32 year old groom-to-be is black. A different justice performed the ceremony and a days later the couple filed federal discrimination lawsuit against Mr. Bardwell. Also GOOD!

Now the former justice has refused to marry at least four other interraccial couples in the past 2 and a half years! And still he says he would probably do it again! Bardwell, speaking to CNN a ffiliate, said he was advised "that I needed to step down because they was going to take me to court, and I was going to lose."

Ahh yea... ya think!

He says his "main concern is the children." Has he not noticed how many interrraccial children there are now-a-days??? I am the product of an interrracial maraige... and if there's a problem... its because of people like him! And in his position as an elected official, he's not supposed to interject his ideologies while excercising the law!

Guess he also hadn't heard that the U.S. Supreme Court tossed out any racially-based limitations on marraige in the landmark 1967 ruling in the case Loving v. Virginia. In the unanimous decision, the court said that under the Constitution, "the freedom to marry, or not marry, a person of another race resides with the individual and cannot be infringed by the State."

WHAT IS WRONG WITH FOLKS? A FLORIDA MOM THAT SAYS SHE WAS ABDUCTED, RAPED AND HELD FOR RANSOM.... LIED!

So an investigation has lead authorities to believe that a married 37 year old, Florida mother of two lied about her abduction, rape and being held for a $50,000 ransom!

Her alleged abducter is her 25 yeard old mechanic boyfriend whom she met at a gas station. Classy, right? Well it gets better... there are audio tapes of the two having sex and plotting the plan. But her defense says that she is bi polar and mentally ill and the tapes are actually of her being manipulated and raped.

Her husband, meanwhile, is standing by her and is funding her defense. Wow!

Now thats a good man and a supportive husband. But is he a fool? I'm sure its got to be hard to handle that your wife was kidnapped and violated... but its probably even harder to swallow that your soul mate would put you through unimaginable terror, pain and anxiety for financial gain.

They say love conquers all... lets see if that holds true in this case.

An 11 YEAR OLD GIRL IS THE WORLDS YOUNGEST MOTHER!

Unbelievable.... an 11 year old from Bulgaria is a mom???
I just don't get it! How does that happen? I mean obviously I know how it happened but when there is a world of info on sex and abstinance, sexually transmitted diseases and birth control .... why is 11 year old having sex and not using protection???
Now the father of the child is 19 year old and says he thought she was 15. Uh....hello! Thats still illegal! He's now facing six years behind bars for obvious reasons. But where were and are her parents?! Meanwhile, check out whats in her immediate future...
‘It feels strange to be a mum and have a baby. I used to play with my toys but now she is my new toy. She is so beautiful, I love her. Violeta is the child and I must grow up. I am not going back to school – I am a mother now.’
I hope someone talks some sense to her and quick! Not getting an education is not the answer! That will make a bad situation even worse. Life is harder enough as a pre teen without having to be a parent too ... add non educated to the pre teen parent and its practically impossible to anticipate a productive and prosoperous future.