They Are Coming To A Town Near You Soon

Each year summertime brings food, fireworks, family and friends, it's a tradition but wait there is one more, carnivals. The trucks have made their way down the main street of our small town and set up the rides, games and the strange group of employees. If we can have a successful company called College Painters why can't we have College Carnies, you know a clean cut group of kids in buttoned down shirts from local universities eager to travel and provide wholesome service to nearby communities but no. (Warning, if you or anyone you know works or have worked for a carnival company and the following description does not apply to that person, great have them come to Lisle because our carnies are scary.)

As you nibble on your over-priced elephant ear take the time to gaze at the employees of the carnival company. They should be easy to spot, they are wearing a purple or royal blue polo shirt that is either too big or too small and wear black jeans, I have always wondered why they don't mandate khaki shorts it's 95 degrees. The ratio of teeth to tattoos is 1:1 and finally there is a cigarette hanging out of their mouths. What other job allows you to work with children and smoke at the same time, open air, travel and all the corndogs you can eat, the perfect dream job. No normal people need apply.

My favorite carnies are the ones working the games, they yell to get your attention as you hurry by, "Come and try your luck" or "Hey Miss Lady" is what they say when a "sister" (black woman) walks past. Last year my son and his buds complained to the worker because they won twice and was told it didn't count. When they told potential suckers/customers to stay away, the carnie yelled things I cannot type. They were just 11 year old smarty pants kids who did not deserve what they got.

They are often dirty and unpleasant but these individuals are invited by authorities to our community each summer. How many are on parole or are wanted by the police? I am not a snob but these people could not complete the screening process of your local fast food restaurant but yet they are allowed to work with our most precious possessions, our children.

Safety is another issue, they assemble these attractions weekly which should mean they are experts at meeting the regulations. My friend and her son were electrocuted by a live wire touching a metal fence, thank God they survived but they were not met with kindness and concern. No offense when I saw a one armed senior citizen with a cigarette I thought this guy doesn't care if there is left over screw labeled, "important".

I love the day after the fest closes and I drive past the coin operated laundry and see the trailers parked there. They are washing loads of polos and jeans before heading to the next sleepy town.

I must confess that have not gone to our fest yet so maybe this year will be different from the last 15, I can only hope.

Michael Jackson and BET Tribute

Before I shred the 2009 BET Awards I must say I am impressed with how quickly they pulled together the performers who learned a Michael Jackson song and or dance routine to honor him. Now on to Michael Jackson's death and the 24 hour coverage. I grew up with a sharing a room with a play cousin (not really related) who is 2 year older and we would drift off each night talking about what we were going to be when we grew up. Cindy was going to Hollywood to be a singer and she was going to marry Michael Jackson. I believe Michael was a musical genius and one of the best entertainers we have ever seen.

We are caught of guard by his sudden death but talk radio host Bill Cunningham said it best, Michael did not cure cancer, bring peace to the Middle East and most of all he is not a person we would want our children to immolate. Yes he toured the world causing fans to fill stadiums, drop to their knees and cry but you would be hard pressed to find anyone to trade places with Michael Jackson. It would be even harder to fine anyone that would allow him to babysit their children. I know that he was never found him guilty of those charges but once cash exchanges hands it looks like hush-money.

If you remove the accusations of child molestation he was still very strange and that's ok most artist are quirky. There is a long list of entertainers that have danced to their own music but if you choose to sleep in an oxygen chamber, cover your children with colorful scarfs, marry Elvis's daughter, pay someone to have your children and keep the kids from their mothers you should expect some criticism. I understand why the E channel would have 24 hour wall to wall coverage but the news stations need to concentrate on what is going on in Washington D.C., they may try to pass the healthcare bill during the funeral.

Ebony and Jet magazine were created when black America did not have a voice but when the modern black media refuses to cover negative aspects of black celebrities and scream racism when "they" cover the incidents it is not fair. I want to know the good and bad of what any public figure does, if you are famous and accept all the money and perks, guess what we are going to call you out if you marry your step-daughter, I wish would ever watch another Woody Allen movie and I find it creepy that actors will work with him and fans still want to support his projects.

I mention race because Jamie Foxx mentioned "black" so much during the award show that paid tribute to Micheal Jackson. He said that MJ was our black man loaned to others but he is our black man. "We have a great black president" and "Make some noise black people" are just a couple of quotes. They could have truly honored Micheal if the show was not focused on promoting Jamie Foxx's up coming tour, "Blame it on the alcohol" is a very positive message for black people. They were honoring a great performer but Jamie told a penis joke and talked about having unprotected sex during an HIV commercial, very tasteful.

Back to the Jackson family and the pain of such a sudden loss. Families commonly reunite and stick together during times like this but they had a distant relationship with him at best. I remember an interview with Janet months after the birth of Prince and she had never seen the baby, they were rich enough to fly anywhere in the world and she had not met her nephew. Reports are that those children didn't know the Jackson family and I only hope that is not true. It is horrible when any child loses a parent but normally they have had a relationship with extended family members to help with the healing. Joe Jackson obviously in deep sorrow, used his interview on the red carpet as an opportunity to say he wishes that the world had recognized Micheal's talent when he was alive, huh? and he is working on a Blue-ray project, more information later,"Always be closing", (Glengary Glenross).

I had never watched the BET awards so I don't know the flow of a normal show and who gets honored. I don't know why LeBron James brought 2 people on stage to accept his award and thanked Micheal for what he did for basketball, I had no idea he played or was he thinking they were honoring Michael Jordan? Most of all I want to know what happened to Lil Wayne and T-Pain during their childhood. T-Pain said during his speech, "You know what I'm saying" and the answer was no, I had no idea. My sister would say they are poets of modern hip-hop, I never liked poetry.

I picture Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton stuck in the doorway of the Jackson mansion trying to squeeze in to be named official spokesperson of the family. Those 2 had to clear their schedule of what I don't know since they seem to make a living hogging the spot light and turning everything into a racial conflict. They must keep a bag packed like a pregnant woman ready to leave and give birth at anytime, you never know when a poor black stripper trying to make a descent living might get rapped some rich white boys.

Rest in peace Micheal your music touched the world and made so many stop, think and feel. He is the King of Pop.

My Sister's Keeper

We heard that the ending was altered and the reviews were lukewarm but our book club loved the novel and we had to see this film. The cast was A-1 but if you think it is the Abigail Breslin show you are wrong. Abigail is great but the young woman that plays Kate is amazing. If Sofia Vassilieva is not nominated for an Oscar I will be disappointed, every time she was on the screen I cried. Spoiler alert, you need to bring lots of tissue, you will ugly cry, I am talking Terms Of Endearment level of tears. My face was in pain from trying to hold back in the presence of friends. If you read the book you will probably wish they had true to the original story. If you have not read the book and you need a good cry, go. If you want to witness the tale of a mother willing to do anything to save her daughter, go see this film. In the news we hear of moms drowning kids to be with a new boyfriend but this woman was a determined mama bear willing to rip out the throat of anyone who got in the way of her mission, she wants to save her child. Jason Patric is great as the dad and Cameron Diaz in her first role as a mom is awesome. Many families experience the pain of having chronically ill children and this film allows you to see the day to day pain and the heart wrenching choices they are forced to make. If I never read the book I would give it 4 stars but I read the book so I am forced to give it 2 and 1/2 stars.

It Must Be Nice To Be A Liberal

I am a political junkie, every since 1993 when I purchased a car that didn't have FM radio, I found WLS and I was hooked. I was a Rogers Park liberal that voted for Clinton and Carol Moseley-Braun. In 1994 I moved to a Republican county but it took years for me to convert. In 1998 I was finally done with the Democratic party. When the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal broke and the Democrats stood by him because he was a "good president" I realized there was no place in that party for a person like me. I repeatedly heard that his behavior was of the personal nature and his job was totally separate. When I was a teen working at McDonald's a manager shocked me by kissing the back of my neck. I felt unsure about what to do but I reported him to a manager, within hours the owner was involved and that person was fired. I could never justify Clinton's actions and choice to dishonor his wife and daughter. "He's only human, don't judge", It must be nice to stand by set of inconsistent values. "Tommy" was in charge of who was working the fry station during the lunch rush and he was fired, Clinton was the leader of the free world but I was supposed to over look the his actions and forget he lied. As a liberal you can do whatever you desire and even if you fail miserably it's OK because of your good intentions and no one will judge you, it must be nice.

Liberals believe that the circus is cruelty to animals, the extremist will chain themselves to a tree to prevent it from being chopped down and don't get me started on the campaign to close Guantanamo Bay but abortion is acceptable. How can pouring water on a terrorist who is capable of boarding a crowded bus filled with innocent people and blow it to smithereens is worst than stopping a heartbeat of a baby. Do they know where babies come from, embryos are human beings? It is the choice of the woman, so if I am 6 months pregnant and drunk driver hits me on my way to an abortion clinic and my baby dies is that murder? Abortion is child abuse. I wonder if one of those nuts saw an endangered baby seal in the road next to a human baby and no choice but to hit one what would they do?

They create programs to "help" the poor. Free lunches, government housing, public-aid and my favorite affirmative action guidelines. They have ruined the poor community by not allowing the caterpillar to fight and struggle its way from the cocoon, the wings never develop therefore stunting its growth. The liberal agenda is to remove choice from our normal lives. The government it our savior and will take care of all of our needs. What do kids on free breakfast and lunch programs eat during Christmas, Easter and summer break? Public assistance is wonderful to give people help when they encounter hard times, but why do recipients get an increase for having more children? They should be helped until youngest is school age and given bonuses if they are willing to get the birth control shot. I have never received a raise for popping out a baby, in fact during one pregnancy I worked for a 4 star hotel and never even got flowers. At the end of my pregnancy I worked 10-12 hours and could barely fit in the elevator and what did I get, nada, zilch, it must be nice.

Obama's Rev. Wright is back in the news making racist remarks as usual. One of my favorite libs said to me today, "I never knew Wright said white people created AIDS to kill black people". I am so close to filing a class action suit against folks that voted for him dispite knowing nothing about his history or views on the core issues. Defenders have said, "He really didn't attend that church regularly but he just joined for political reasons". He named his first book after one of Rev. Wright's sermon, he was a member for 20 years, Rev. Wright was a father figure, he married Obama and baptized his children, but when Obama was asked about Wright's hate speeches Obama said he had never heard those sermons. Not one of his supporters can explain why he never got called on how he sat somewhere for 20 years with selective hearing or why he pretended to belong to a church he didn't really attend. Remember being a liberal means you don't have to explain hypocrisy, I don't know why but they just don't, it must be nice.

It must be nice to allowed to talk out of both sides of your neck and not be held accountable but I would rather be live by a set of core beliefs. I believe the government's role is not to give us rights, the government role is to protect our God given rights PERIOD. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.

I realize that some liberals might get offended by the many things I have expressed but the use of the word "liberal" really gets under their skin. Democrat and Republican cannot define a person's affiliation because the terms are to broad. I am a Ronald Reagan conservative and I don't mind if I am labeled as such. Don't get your undies in a bunch, if you are a liberal. If you are not sure if you are a liberal I will define liberal in a future blog, coming soon.

PS - After that McDonald's manger got the boot I was promoted :).

Thank A Veteran

I love America and respect the veterans and active military. In a day and age when it is common to paint them as terrorist, poor uneducated folks who joined because they had no choice or simply not worthy of our praise I am shocked that young people are still joining and are eager to serve our country. In January on a return flight I was seated next to a striking young woman wearing fatigues. I choked and said nothing, I never told her that I am in awe of anyone who is willing to give their life so that my family can sleep at night and not have bombs dropping in our neighborhood. I wanted to ask what her motivation was for serving, what her job was or what were she was stationed. It was like I was sitting next to a celebrity. I have never thanked my neighbor who has a huge Marine flag in front of his home. Often the veterans from World War II are referred to as the greatest generation due to their bravery and courage but I think this new crop of military may become known for what they have done to protect our country from a very different enemy. In the past our foes were obvious but currently we are up against a movement that wants to destroy our way of life, they attack the freedoms and beliefs that have made our country the greatest place to live on the planet. We are so blessed, don't just thank a vet, hug a vet.

Always Eat The Burnt Toast

Yesterday on the radio the host encourage listeners to call and share what their mothers taught them. I started thinking what would I say with a 5 minute platform. My mom taught me everything since she raised us alone. The one thing that sticks with me daily is "put your children first".

In the 70's my mother who never finished high school but decided to make a financial sacrifice and pay for private schools. In kindergarten we lived in the building of a woman who sent her children to a Lutheran school so my mom sent me there. Midway through first grade we moved with my mom's pretend sister, so we went to a public school with her children. It was the longest year of my life, bullies, disruptive students and a sub par curriculum. When I arrived I was so advanced, I was labeled the smartest kid in the class. Midway through the second grade we moved to a woman's building that sent her children to a Catholic school so we were sent there. I arrived there one of the dumbest kids in class. I was so far behind in reading that I was enrolled in a special program. I attended the sessions until 4th grade and remember being teased for having "special reading". I later got revenge by being named salutatorian giving me the honor of delivering the welcome address at graduation. We would remain at that school until 8th grade, even though we moved a couple of times.

 My mom was very young and most of her friends sent their children to the local public school. Her friends drove new cars and my mom had a beat up station wagon. Her pretend sister had the biggest, latest television with a remote control, our set came from Salvation Army and we used pliers to change the channel. I don't know if her friends ever told her she was stupid for paying for our education when CPS was offering the same thing for free but we heard it from the neighborhood children that taunted us in our plaid skirts. Even then I knew my brown uniform was a badge of honor, I didn't understand exactly how we were better off but I knew we had an advantage.

Regina always had a strong work ethic no matter what was happening in her life she got a job, worked hard and advanced. She moved us to better apartments every time her pay increased allowed us to "move on up". As a busy working mom she was always running late trying to prepare breakfast, get us dressed and get to work on time. She burned the breakfast at least once a week. When the toast popped out too dark she would replace it with a new piece of bread and put the burnt toast aside. My mom grew up hungry, she couldn't throw food away so she quietly ate the burnt toast. We never went hungry and never lived in government housing. My mom is the epitome of the great American story, she lost her mom at 13, shuffled between relatives and foster homes, had a baby at 17 (me) and another 19 (same dad), married for a brief time finally producing a son but was devoted to making sure we did better than she did. We were Girl Scouts, traveled to Disney World and for years she sent us to tap and ballets lessons on Michigan Ave. We were never idle, seven days a week were off to either school, scouts, choir practice, dance rehearsal, skating rink or a movie. Looking back I should have taken the piano lessons when she offered instead of tap and ballet that was very painful, I am happy that video cameras were not invented yet.

I graduated from a private high school and next Sunday her first granddaughter will graduate from a private university, God is good. My mom and sister think I don't remember the lean years and everything she did for us, in fact they think I was switched at birth because of my political views. During the last presidential election season Mommy and I fought endlessly and she didn't understand how I could be so defiant, I know how, she put me in a uniform skirt with my skinny ankles, on the westside of Chicago. I had to explain almost daily why my mother so dumb to waste money on private school. Note, brown plaid was never in fashion in the ghetto, it was like wearing a bulls eye. 

Happy Mother's Day Mommy. I thank my mom for skipping the Cadillac and investing in us and I thank the nuns and priest of Our Lady of Lourdes for making us appreciate the privilege of a private education.

I Am So Glad My Pastor Doesn't Need Security

My sister says, 'Listen to both sides" which is one reason I decided to visit Trinity United Church of Christ but the main reason is because I am trying to get to know a new aunt who happens to be a member. My family met her this past January and in an effort to get to know her I asked what church she attended, when she answered forks dropped, what were the chances.

I picked yesterday randomly and soon learned it was Unity Day, that sounded friendly enough. I went with an open mind since Rev. Wright is no longer the pastor and I figured it could not be bad as it was depicted. Almost everyone was wearing a white t-shirt, the back read, "Unashamedly Black And Unapologetically Christian". A year ago Unity Day was started in response to all the adversity Obama faced during his run for president. He attended the church for 20 years before separating himself from Rev. Wright and the hate preachings. Trinity is like I remember black churches from my youth, a great deal of reserved parking spaces, white gloved ushers willing to help and the pulpit complete with a large choir area and several associate pastors adorning either side of Pastor Otis Moss III who was wearing a black t-shirt with a large black fist on the back. Before the sermon we were treated to a performance youth drama team, it was a cute skit which included a line about being grateful to have a black president but I didn't think there would be any further mention of politics, boy was I wrong.

Psalm 118 was the topic of this sermon titled, "Why Black People Shout?". I got excited because I thought he was going to shed some light on why black people are loud but he explained why we are more charismatic when praising God. I found it interesting that it came from our African heritage. The missionaries may have shared the good word but we added the dancing and shouting. Moss said that it has been said that blacks brought no culture to the fabric of America and he begged to differ. He then started preaching about Kind David being the 7th sons of 7 sons and his rule being a "change of administrations" (repeatedly). I started searching the scripture thinking that those two words seemed too modern to be a direct quote. He talked about thanking those that rejected you because if it were not for them you would not be where you are today. During his sermon he spoke in that stereotypical cadence, wiped his forehead a lot and drank from a water glass, nothing unusual those actions. He repeated "rejection" and "thankful" a great deal until it morphed into "How George Bush Done Us Wrong". I closed the bible, sat up straight thinking I was possibly being punked by the dozens of the people clapping and shouting in agreement. I forgot I was there to praise Jesus and instead I debated if I should storm out in protest. Bush ignored and rejected the urban communities and now things were looking up because of Obama. I tried not to look annoyed but I was stirring in the pew. My aunt sat to my right so I had to be polite and besides my mom was there and she taught me better.

When the "sermon" ended my aunt asked if I wanted to meet him, I hesitated but agreed. This was not the forum to tell him that he was irresponsible and dangerous but I wanted him to remember me because I knew an email was headed his way. Next, I noticed a gentleman wearing an earpiece standing next to Rev. Moss, as I live and breathe, security. There was a very nice but chatty older woman who we let go ahead of us which allowed me the chance to calm down. My aunt assured me that he loves spirited exchange of ideas, I knew this was not the time or place. She broke the ice immediately, "Rev. Moss this is my Republican niece", he chuckled and I said it had to be God that I would chose that Sunday to attend. I shook his hand and moved on, the line was long. My aunt informed me that this was par for the course, Trinity is very political. I asked what Sunday are they scheduled to bash Mayor Daley and their alderman, "We never talk about Daley", why blame the people who are witnesses to the urban neglect? I know he is new to Chicago but if he spent a couple of hours reading the scores of Chicago Public Schools, he would understand neglect. Are parents protesting in front of City Hall demanding better schools, no let's sit in a church and blame a man living in Texas?

This was shocking enough but what happened next was crazier, after we said our good-byes my mom said that she was embarrassed, she worked hard on Obama's campaign and we fought like the Hatfields and the McCoys for months. She said that her church didn't talks politics. I thought Rev. Moss was taking the church in a new direction to shed the poor image Rev. Wright left behind. If I had not heard it for myself I would not have believed it and again I ask the question I asked just before the election,"How can a Christian sit in those pews for 20 years and listen to that hatred?

Naperville Harvest Bible Chapel is a place that all can come, feel welcome and hear the message from Pastor Ron Zappia. I don't attend every Sunday but I have never heard him speak negatively about anyone other than Satan. My husband is white and if my family were to visit Trinity we would be extremely uncomfortable, at Harvest we have the rainbow coalition and when you meet the pastor there is just Ron and Jody (his wife not his body guard). Two questions: I am curious if a person lunges at Moss would that guy shoot the culprit right there at the pulpit? And shouldn't the t-shirt have bragged about being Christian first and then being black?