S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D Out: This Artist’s Dilemma

Okay, so I’ve been working on this novel for over a decade now. You know, the epic one that  tells the story just right and will take the world by storm

The overwhelming number of artists who follow my blog will understand completely. This Story … the characters and plots, footprints and un-muted cries urging me to write it all down. My heart pounds and my stomach churns in a weird mix of delight and dread, an aching deep within my core to share the visions flowing through my mind & heart.

So, Dear Reader, I apologize for falling off the wagon of consistency in keeping up this blog but this Story will wait no more. I’ve even attempted to distract myself with various other writing gigs, telling myself that I’m still creating. But the vestiges of times present and long past are screaming now, casting all else to the wind. I’m in the throes of Divine Inspiration. That I have to eat and take care of other life necessities is all that keeps me from the pen night & day.

Please bear with me for a while. There’s lots to read here already. Though much of it is in need of some editing, you might still find a few gems among the posts.

Know that I think of you everyday and send greetings of love from my heart. And that’s for real.

And a few of you will be requested to be test readers of the Story in the near future so keep a lookout in your inbox.

I plan to do some posts over the next few months but I’m really not sure if or when that will happen.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by. Here’s to all the best ahead.

To be continued …

Music Video: “War” Bob Marley & The Wailers

“We don’t need no more troubles … what we need is love” ~ Bob Marley

Visionary legend, Bob Marley makes the case. There’s nothing more to add.

Thank you Bob. You are missed and your music continues to inspire and edify all around the globe.

FLOTUS In The Garden: Spring Is In The Air ☼ ♪ ¸.·´¯`✫

FLOTUS Michelle Obama in the WH garden with students from schools nationwide

ƸӜƷ

Thanks to Edie Anderson on fb. Wonderful pics of our First Lady

WASHINGTON, DC – APRIL 04: U.S. first lady Michelle Obama plants the White House Kitchen Garden on the South Lawn of the White House April 4, 2013 in Washington, DC. For the fifth time, the first lady invited students from “schools that have made exceptional improvements to school lunches” from Florida, Massachusetts, Tennessee and Vermont to help her plant the garden.

ƸӜƷ

ƸӜƷ

“One of the lessons that I grew up with was to always stay true to yourself and never let what somebody else says distract you from your goals. And so when I hear about negative and false attacks, I really don’t invest any energy in them, because I know who I am.”

ƸӜƷ

ƸӜƷ

“Parents have a right to expect that their efforts at home won’t be undone each day in the school cafeteria or in the vending machine in the hallway. …Parents have a right to expect that their kids will be served fresh, healthy food that meets high nutritional standards.” –Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act signing

 

 

 

 

** #Baisdenlive Gives Another Free Book Download **

I got a little twisted a couple weeks ago about which books were available for free download but Michael Baisden has now made an honest woman of me

I got it right this time for real tho! Mr. Baisden is giving away his most recent book, The Maintenance Man II, as a free download on Amazon Kindle.

Starting midnight tonight thru Saturday, April 6, you can download Maintenance Man II: Money, Politics & Sex: Everyone Has A Price  at no cost. Another generous offer from MB as he prepares for the next chapter in his extraordinary career.

Many of you know that Michael Baisden’s popular radio show has been taken off the air but MB has been logging onto facebook and twitter each day to keep his listeners up-to-date on the happenings.

I had hoped to have a review of MB’s earlier giveaway, Maintenance Man I: Collector’s Edition, ready for you by now but some unexpected events and a few technical difficulties have kept me from giving the read my full attention. I do plan to sit with it soon.

His already huge fan base has grown in these 10 days since his last live show and I predict that will only continue. Honesty & integrity mean a lot and as MB “keeps it real”, people listen.

Remember, the free download of Maintenance  Man II will be available at midnight tonight.

Thanks again, MB. Keep it comin!

Music Video: Karmacy, Blood Brothers

Blood Brothers

Thanks to Mani Masuria via Gaurav Pandey on fb

“No matter where you go your soul is in the same place …”

Ok, I’ll admit that the last music video I posted wasn’t quite a “jam”. But it was the lyrics & clever graphics in Dedication to the Prez that impressed me so.

But I promise, this is a JAM! Fusion, hip hop group Karmacy, delivers lyrical skills, beats and rhyme in this music video released in 2006. It is a long time ago in today’s sound-bite society but it’s new to me! And the message about family, pain & desire is still pertinent today.

Parts are in English and parts are in Gujarati, the native language of Mohandas Gandhi and the talented group members. The lyrical flow between worlds never skips a beat ..

I loved it and learned a few things too which is always good

I think Karmacy got skills and I didn’t stop jammin even when I had to read the subtitles.

So, there’s my testimony. Check it out for yourself

Karmacy – Blood Brothers

Pete Souza photos: President Obama's trip to the Middle East

Reblogged from The Obama Diary:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

President Barack Obama and Dr. Suleiman A.D. Al Farajat, a University of Jordan tourism professor, jump from a ledge of the Nabataean Amphitheater during a walking tour the ancient city of Petra in Jordan, March 23

****

President Barack Obama shakes hands during a meet and greet at the U.S. Consulate in Jerusalem, March 21

****

President Barack Obama meets National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, left, and Ben Rhodes, Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications, in the conference room aboard Air Force One en route to Tel Aviv, Israel, March 20…

Read more… 204 more words

Pete Souza's excellent, exacting eye delivers great pics of President Obama in the Middle East.

Politics Makes Strange Bedfellows

Reblogged from Commentaries on the Times:

• 

A Very Odd Couple

Barack Must Avoid Mid-East Pitfalls and Quagmires

On his present foray into the Middle East President Obama must proceed with caution.   This is the most volatile region of the world; the political landscape is strewn with pitfalls which can quickly metamorphose into quagmires that can bog an interventionist superpower down for a decade, cost trillions in treasure and rivers of blood - much of it resulting from the slaughter of innocents -yet end up leaving the situation worse than you found it. 

Read more… 1,168 more words

If you want to understand the implications & importance of President Obama's trip to Israel, read this thoroughly insightful piece!