Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Winter Band Concert


Jordan had her second concert of the year and they sounded great ! Next time I 'spose I should video tape it so everyone can hear :-)

Sunday, February 21, 2010

George Washington Carver Museum

Jordan & I have been wanting to go to the George Washington Carver Museum for a long time now. And since it's Black History Month, I thought it would be especially important to go this past Saturday ... truthfully, we were out and about and Jordan thought of it before I did :-)

We were the only ones there and had the added pleasure of having our very own tour guide, the Director herself, Mrs. Francis Williams. If you ever want to know ANYTHING about history she's the go-to person.





When we first walked in, I started looking at the first wall I came to but Mrs. Williams said, "My dear, if you'll permit me, I shall take you to the beginning. Unfortunately so many Americans of all races believe that Black History begins with slavery and ends with Martin Luther King, Jr -- but if we start with that than we miss the beginning.... and the beginning, my dear, of ALL history begins with Africa." At that point she took us around a corridor and started teaching us .... i mean really schoolin' us .... we learned interesting history -

like the Black Pharoahs in Nubia (present day Sudan) -- wealthiest people on earth -- who constructed the Pyramids with such precision that even to this day, scientists and architects can't duplicate their methods.



From there she spoke of the migration from Africa to Asia where Black Mongols were known for their mighty warrior prowess and sometimes referred to as the "children of hell" -- they were fierce and well respected for their military pursuits.


And from there, Mrs. Francis went on to explain The Moors who were Africans that migrated to Spain. They are known for their Moorish Architect..... noted for their domes and arched doorways ...


Fascinating, huh?

She took us through the slavery period. I didn't take pictures... out of respect. There was a broom on a table amoung other items. She asked if I knew what it was. I told her I thought it was a "wedding broom". She went on to explain that slaves weren't allowed to get married.... because they were thought of as property and well, "property" has no "rights". So, if two slaves fell in love they would secretly go down by the river or deep into the woods with close friends and family and have their own ceremony. And at the end of the ceremony the couple would jump over a broom to symbolize they were married.




And here he is, the man of the hour... Mr. George Washington Carver. What an amazing man! Did you know that Henry Ford and Dupont both offered him millions to work for them but he turned them down because he considered himself a scientist and not a business man. He also said that "the Creator freely gave him his gifts and talents and he would not charge money for them but instead freely give" ... he did sooooo much more than inventing over 300 uses for the peanut -- which that alone is a feat in itself -- but he created synthetics, new methods for crop irrigation, crop rotation -- he was a botanist, educator, and inventor ! Whew !!




I thought this was very interesting -- here is Paul Williams who is the architect credited for giving Hollywood its "look" as well as Rodeo Drive. He also designed the Los Angeles International Airport.





There was a section devoted entirely to every American war we've ever fought and how black Americans have fought in every one of them. I was amazed to hear that during WWI it was "against the law" for Black Americans and White Americans to go to battle together. So, the US government shipped the Black American soldiers to France to do "ground work" such as organizing and well, probably cleaning and maintaining equipment and supplies. But they grew restless and wanted to fight for their country so the French government asked the American government if the Black American soldiers could fight under the French flag...... and so they did. America never recognized them but France had a huge ceremony that celebrated them...... geeze, boggles the mind doesn't it?
I left the museum with such mixed feelings. Feelings of sadness and inequality as well as feelings of awe and wonder --- how can anyone thrive through hate?... and yet, somehow, so many have.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The Amazing Oreo strikes again....


The Amazing Oreo is at it again ! She's mastering her skills of cunning, stamina, and ... camouflage !




Here we see what looks like an ordinary pile of laundry just taken out of the dryer.




... but wait! Look closely .....



It's The Amazing Oreo camouflaged as a wash cloth !



Brilliant Amazing Oreo ! Brilliant !

The Dedicated Student....


It's 5:00 AM Tuesday morning. Jordan is up and practicing for a Band "music reading". She's learning Mary Had A Little Lamb. She practiced for an hour.
As the Chinese proverb goes: “Those who say it can't be done should get out of the way of those doing it.” --- reminds me of Jordan, she's one of those who just does it....my dedicated Little Grasshopper :-)

Monday, February 15, 2010

Celebrating Black History Month !




February is Black History Month and I'd like to give attention to a few of my favorite things and or people that just so happen to have been invented or discovered or prepared or inspired by black folks :-)
George Washington Carver -- created over 300 uses for the peanut including cooking oit, peanut butter, axle grease, and printer's ink !
Dr. Patricia Bath -- invented the Laserphaco Probe and procedure for cataract surgery which is a more precise method than the mechanical grinder that was used before :-(
Otis Boykin -- Few inventors have had the lasting impact of Otis Boykin. Look around the house today and you'll see a variety of devices that utilize components made by Boykin – including computers, radios and TV sets.
George Crum -- potato chips (I love you, Mr. Crum :-)
Frederick McKinley Jones -- In addition to the refrigerated trucks and trains, Jones also invented an air-conditioning unit for military field hospitals, a refrigerator for military field kitchens, a self-starting gas engine, a series of devices for movie projectors and box-office equipment that gave tickets and made change. Jones was awarded the National Medal of Technology in 1991 – the first Black inventor to ever receive such an honor.
Garrett Morgan -- inventor of the gas mask and traffic signal.
Alexander Mils -- elevator.
Richard Spikes -- invented the automatic gearshift.
Joseph Gambol-- invented the super charge system for internal combustion engines.
Albert R. Robinson -- the electric trolley.
Charles Brooks -- street sweeper.

John Love -- pencil sharpener
William Purvey -- fountain pen
Lee Barrage -- typewriter.
W. A. Love -- advanced printing press.
William Barry -- invented the postmarking and canceling machine
William Purveys -- invented the hand stamp.
Philip Downing --invented the letter drop.

Lewis Lattimer -- invented the electric lamp.
Michael Harvey -- invented the lantern.
Granville T. Woods -- invented the automatic on/off switch.
Thomas W. Steward -- invented the mop
Lloyd P. Ray -- invented the dust pan.

Joseph Smith -- invented the sprinkler system.
John Burr -- invented the lawn mower.
Alice Parker -- invented the heating furnace.

John Standard -- invented the kitchen fridge.
That's just a taste of the every day inventions that are still in use today -- not to mention music, foods, dance, art, poetry, books, political and social activists -- geesh !!! What can I say ?? Thanks !!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Happy Valentine's Day !



LIVE FREELY !
LAUGH OFTEN !
LOVE ALWAYS !
Whoever lives in love, lives in God.
1 John 4:16
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY :-)

Friday, February 12, 2010

So She Changed Her Mind ;-)

Guess who changed her mind and decided that snow wasn't so bad after all .....
Oreo!

And what could have enough force to change such a stubborn little girl?

Why, the mighty Frisbee !!

Of Course !!! ;-)

Oreo Says "No" to Snow !!


Oreo has been in our family for 3 years and has never seen snow ! Today was her first experience and ?.... she hated it ! HA ! She wouldn't even get off the front porch. In fact she sat right down put her ears back as if to say "Pshh. Whateva! Talk to the Paw"

And that was it. She got up and went back inside. HA !

Fun In the Snow... at Work -- LOL !


Had to go outside and play in the snow a bit -- even if it was at work :-)
We had enough snow to make snow prints !


And to catch flakes on our tongues!!!



But this picture was just too funny to me -- 'cause you can't see the flakes falling so it looks like I'm outside sticking my tongue out. ...... or singing. or screaming. or having a seizure. -- LOL

IT'S SNOWING ! IT'S SNOWING ! IT'S SNOWING IN LA !!

OMG'sh it's snowing in LA (Lower Alabama)!!



Well, I must say God is so good. Jordan woke up at 4:00 am to see if it had snowed. It hadn't. She came to me with crocodile tears saying she was confused because last night she asked God to let it snow "out of a pure heart" and it hadn't snowed. (talk about a sweet heart!) I told her God's will is bigger than our desire and that maybe there was a homeless person that didn't have any shelter to withstand the storm. Who knows? Well, before I left for work she wanted to pray again -- and we did.


At 8:45 am it started snowing huge flakes of snow ! You know the kind they put on Christmas cards and try to replicate in the movies. It was absolutely beautiful to see :-) I called Jordan -- she was already bundled and about to go outside to play in it. I reminded her to thank God and she said "Oh, Mom, I did -- about a thousand times!!!!"



Thank you, Father, for increasing the faith of one precious little girl ;-)


Monday, February 1, 2010

Movie Night At Church



Sunday night was "Movie Night" at our church. We watched "Fly Wheel".


The Youth Group handed out popcorn and cokes :-)


And "hung out" together.


(that's Jordan on the floor --- hiding from me and the camera --- she was sooooo embarrassed - lol ! I 'spose she's hit that age where she doesn't want me doing ANYTHING infront of her friends -- lol!
And here's my favorite part ...CHOCOLATE :-)
It was a great movie, by the way. You should rent it sometime.