I owe a couple of people things via mail. I haven't forgotten about you. This stalker situation really put a stop to my life. He's still around, but I'm gaining a bit more freedom, so my goal is to have stuff mailed by the end of July. If I owe you something and you haven't received it by the first week of August, email me at ebonyblue@mindless.com. I probably lost your contact info in the move. Thanks.

I'm slowly working my way back to blogger-land. I had a near stalker situation on my hands. He has kept away (sorta), but he's still seen driving by occasionally. Hopefully things will be resolved soon. I almost don't keep looking over my shoulder when I take out the trash or check my mail. Since I don't have a working computer at home anymore, I have to go to the library and we've just been busy and it's hard to keep 5 children ( 3 under the age of 4) relatively quiet while I post or read blogs, so I do what I can when I can.

I've been busy dealing with some issues, but I do peek in on your blogs when I can grab a minute. TJ, your stuff will be in the mail this weekend.

Deal with yourself as an individual worthy of respect and make everyone else deal with you the same way.
- Nikki Giovanni

This is a lesson I'm having to teach and they aren't wanting to learn, but I'm more patient than they are stubborn.

People have been testing my Christianess--and, yes, that's a word in Ebony's world.
I've been in a foul mood, as if my last post didn't tip you off to that. Here's why. I'm may have mentioned it before, but I work for a temp agency. Great way of getting back into the business world after my husband and I separated and I was pregnant. The flexibility was what I needed with frequent pre-natal visits and then baby check-ups, start of school, etc. Since I started temping I've become the go-to person for a certain company. I enjoy working here, it's a very laid-back atmosphere, the people are nice, the work is good, and the benefits can not be beat. Besides excellent health benefits, during Christmas, the office closes for a week, and that's time-off with pay. A paid week off, in addition to regular vacation, sick leave and personal days? Oh, I'm in. They love me here. So much so that when my agency sends me on another assignment it's with the understanding that if this company calls me, I will leave that job and come here. They will accept no one else. The position became open and of course I submitted my resume. Everyone from the janitor to the president of the company encouraged me to submit my resume. They (I say "they" but it's really just one lady who's new to the company) interviewed 2 people and find her woman. I'm sure you can guess that it wasn't me. I suspect it was someone she knew. By the time anyone knew what was going on, she had this lady hired. I was upset because I need benefits for my children, but I'm confident that God knows best and there's a reason why I didn't get this job. The woman can't look me in the eye, and actually enters and exits through a different door in order not to pass me. Obviously she's not feeling right and I wouldn't want to work under her anyways. Now here's the testing my Christianess part: They asked me if I could stay and train the new hire. What?! I'm not good enough for the job, but I'm good enough to train the person you hired instead? Lord, give me strength. No matter how good it feels, violence never turns out good in the end.

And since I'm in a ranting frame of mind, can I just say that someone should have told Aretha by now. I love me some Aretha Franklin. I have mad respect for her, but when she gained all that weight and showed up in public in spaghetti straps I looked the other way. I'm no fashion icon myself and everyone's entitled to look a hot mess on occasion, but come on. Y'all saw the Grammy's right? Is Aunt Re letting "Cracked Out Whitney" tell her that she looks good in spaghetti straps? I thought these people had professional's dressing them.

Some Randomness

War on Christmas my ___! What part of going broke to buy presents soon forgotten celebrates the birth, life, death or resurrection of Jesus? I say "Happy Holiday" simply because I don't know what holiday the person I'm talking to celebrates, if any, and Christ has little to do with it.

It's cold outside. I hate cold weather, so I'm always bundled like I'm in Alaska, my kids are a different story. I had to give Lady Day the eye when she tried to walk out the door in capri's and practically ripped the shorts off my 3 year old who is the worst offender. Shorts? It's 10 degress with the wind chill! They are either 1/2 or 1/4 white and maybe that has something to do with it, but they don't like to wear coats and I always get looks. Every year I read about it on someone's blog, and I just want to say that I try. Really I do.

I have 5 kids and the hardest thing about getting them out the door is timing. If we have to leave at noon, I can't get them dressed before 11am because I can guarentee they will be undressed by 11:45. Why do kids hate to wear clothes? If our ride shows up or the bus is due, I can't fight with them over putting on a coat. My kids are not Satan's spawn. They don't run me or my house, they just don't like to wear coats. I will put their hats on, but as soon as my back is turned they come right off. My husband was the same way. Try fighting the "Daddy's not wearing a coat" argument. In fact, I've never known him to own anything more than a heavy jacket. He's the fool you see walking down the street in a t-shirt while everyone is talking about how chilly it is. My kids are the same way. But I still try. I know they are going to take off as much as they can, so I make sure to layer their clothes. I used to stress out about it until their doctor very bluntly said, "The only thing you get from cold is cold. Not a cold, but cold. You catch a virus from being around other people, not from being outside. If you're going to be outside for a long time, insist on gloves. When they get cold enough they'll put their coats on." So if you see me out and about with 5 kids in various bundled states, don't give me the evil eye, blame it on the White Man.

1 Timothy 6:10a says, "For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil."
The shortest verse in the Bible is "Jesus wept." found in John 11:35.

I gave my kids their nicknames because I want the freedom to write without family and friends knowing who is talking about them, but it's funny how they seem to fit.
Lady Day is a play on her name, but she goes around the house singing all. the. dang. time.
Bubba is not so much fitting, but what Lady Day used to call him when he was first born. Her and her friend both called their brothers Bubba.
A.J. are his initials.
Bear is a play on his name as mispronounced by A.J., but it fits because he's getting big. He looks like a big ol' bear.
The Poet is named because she is named after a poet and an actress whose name can be shortened to another poets name.