I have made some bad choices. Very bad choices. For the past week, with the family here, my food choices have been horrible. I've had everything from creamy dips to fried chicken to bread puddings. While they were absolutely delicious, I am going to pay for it.

DSM!! Which means--"Diet Starts Monday!!" Next week, I vow to make healthy choices(at least half of the time). I am going to be thin by the holidays. I see everyone snickering, but I REALLY mean it this time! I'm going to be slim and trim!!

I know that I always fall off the wagon early on, but laying around the pool and seeing those hard bodies have made me a changed woman. No more oreos dipped in chocolate. No more fried macaroni/cheese appetizers. No more Coldstone Creamery. Bring on the fresh fruits and veggies.

So, it's settled. DSM. Which means that for the next week, I have to have my last hurrah! Wish me luck!

Your comments--priceless!!

So, we've bailed out the banking industry, we've invested millions into the auto industry--including cash for clunkers, we're helping homeowners. But why is it that in the world's most powerful country, our education system is far inferior to our European and Asian counterparts?

When are we going to dump some cash into educating our youth? Why can't our kids compete in the areas of math and science? Why are public school budgets being slashed to bare bones all across the country? Why aren't we holding our elected officials accountable for these decisions?

What message does it send to the students--are cars and banks more important than them? Are they truly our most precious resource? Do we have "jacked up" priorities?

Your comments--priceless!!

Please let me introduce Shelby M Hill, a professional relationship coach and also an FOJ (Friend of Jewel). He coaches women regarding dating, relationship and social barriers. Interesting work, huh?

After watching women in his life experience unfulfilled, volatile, and dysfunctional relationships, he decided that he wanted to educate women about men--in addition to educating them on loving and working on themselves, rather than expecting a man to do it for them. He's challenged with making his clients understand that by investing in themselves, they can change the outcome of their personal situations.

One of the things that I love about Shelby is his unconditional and unabashed adoration for his wife, British. His blog, called My Life With My Wife, is a glimpse inside their relationship and never fails to make me smile. His honest accounts of those little "situations" that all marriages experience have given me great insight into the "husband's" point of view. He calls British his best friend, business partner, lover and confidante. When he even thinks of her, he beams--and I find it quite refreshing!

Shelby has extended an invitation to my readers to friend him on Facebook (Shelby M Hill), follow him on Twitter(@shelbymhill), comment on his blog, and visit his website. He also offers complimentary coaching sessions. Contact him via email at shelby@shelbymhill.com for more information.

I asked Shelby about his plans for the future and I wasn't surprised to find that they include writing books, hosting teleseminars and speaking engagements. And of course, British.

Your comments--priceless!!

My problem lately has been focus. I have a long list of things that I need to get accomplished and I just never seem to get started.

This week is nearly filled to the brim. So I'm not going to try to pack more into it. But, starting next week--I will plan my work and work my plan. If I am to received all the blessings that I believe are in store for me, I have to put in the work. I simply haven't been doing it.

But the staycation is over. I am back on course. As always, if you are an obstacle in my path--PREPARE TO BE TRAMPLED!

Your comments--priceless!!

I went to high school in my hometown of Washington, DC. It was Calvin Coolidge Senior High School, home of the Colts. While it certainly wasn't a school of elite status, there were many adults who actually saw promise in the students and dared to care. Cecelia Broadnax was one such individual. She was the assistant principal. Strangely, I can't recall the principal's name, but I'll never forget Mrs. Broadnax. Quite often, she would say, "Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn." I'm sure that I heard her say it hundreds of times during my high school years.

That little adage never left me, but I must admit that it was long after high school before they took on any real significance. Over and over, I have found myself in situations where her words would resound loudly. "Never stand begging for that which you have the power to earn." And each time, I say to myself, "You're right, Mrs. Broadnax. I have fallen short again," and resolve to do better.

I have no idea of whatever happened to Mrs. Broadnax, or if she is even still alive. But wherever she is, I hope she knows that I heard her and I thank her...

Your comments--priceless!

Have you ever heard the old saying--"When one door closes, another door opens?" Loosely interpreted, it means that some opportunities are not meant for you, and when you pass on them, another opportunity is then placed in your path. My questions are these--When the one door closes, does it automatically lock? If it does indeed lock, will the same key that opened it before, open it again?

Most people have the problem of not wanting the door to that first opportunity to close and doing whatever they can to keep it propped open. I have a different problem. Once Door #1 opens for me, rather than examining that opportunity, I'm always looking for additional options, hoping that Doors #2, 3, 4, and 28 will open. Sooner or later, Door #1 closes. Only then do I realize that it was the opportunity that I should have pursued.

They say that you will never find resolution for a problem unless you first recognize that there IS a problem. Here's to recognition!

Your comments--priceless!

Have you started prep for cleaning yet? Well, I'm looking forward to Spring Cleaning. I have lots that I've collected that needs to be purged. I have items that no longer fit that need to be given away. I have surfaces that need to be cleared and things that need to be put away. Now, you may think I'm talking about cleaning my home-WRONG! I'm talking about getting rid of rubbish in my life!

Every so often, you have to take stock of the clutter in your life and figure out what you truly need and what you are simply hanging on to, knowing that you will never use it. This clutter could be relationships that you've simply outgrown. It could be the rubbish of stagnant processes that you had hoped would lead to a better life. I have all of that(and then some) in my life right now. Unfortunately, there isn't room for it. It's taking up much needed space.

So, I'm getting rid of it. I'm starting to gather it up now, with plans to leave it on the curb soon for the garbageman to scoop up and take away. Then I'll have room for new ventures. Not that some of those new ventures won't end up being swept away next year, but that what's life's about right--learning and growing?

Your thoughts--priceless!!

Well, it's been a month. A whole month of blogging. Who knew that I had so much to say! When I started, I didn't even think that people would be interested in my random musings--but a month later, I've developed a loyal following.

It's been stressful, but also fun. It's been challenging, but also fulfilling. It's been nerve-wracking, but also liberating. In short, I'm having the time of my life. I wish I had discovered blogging years ago.

The most challenging part of it, by far, has been coming up with new topics daily. I've tried not to pigeon hole myself--my blog is not just for women, not just for Black folks, not just for parents, even though I'm all of those things. I've tried to present different aspects of myself, and hope that I've done a good job in this.

Thanks for reading, thanks for commenting, thanks for all the words of praise. I appreciate it!

Your comments--priceless!!

Do you ever feel confused? Like nothing is how it's supposed to be? Like you somehow got off the right track and now all the tracks are scrambled and it's hard to tell which is the right one now? Clearly, I'm on the wrong track. Clearly, I got derailed somehow. I know where I am and I know where I want to be--it just seems that I'm on the incorrect course.. or something.

Or..perhaps I'm on the right track but there are forces that don't want me on the right track. It's better for them that I'm in a state of turmoil. It delights them that I seem disoriented. They would much rather see me adrift. Well, in the words of my dear 12 year old son--TOO BAD..SO SAD!!! I'm proceeding directly and purposely towards my goals. I have proclaimed 2009 as MY YEAR. And I won't be stopped!

Your comments--priceless!

Except it's been less than 10 years that all 50 states have celebrated a federal holiday in his honor, even though the bill was signed in 1983.

Except the planned Martin Luther King Memorial on the Mall, near the Lincoln Memorial and the Jefferson Memorial, keeps running into obstacles.

Except the King Center in Atlanta has fallen into a state of disarray and disrepair.

Except every Martin Luther King Street, Avenue, or Boulevard that I've ever been on in any city in America, looks war-torn.

Is this how we honor someone who made great strides worldwide? Is this how we hold someone in high public esteem? Something just doesn't seem right...

Your comments--priceless!

Ever heard the old saying, "When life hands you lemons, make lemonade"? What exactly does that mean? I think that they were trying to say "take life as it comes" or "do the best you can with what you have," but how often does the life lemon come looking exactly like a lemon?

More often than not, my life lemons have come looking like an opportunity to make extra money or a "great deal" on something. How come my life lemons never seem to look like a lemon until I try to take a bite out of it? Only then do my jaws get tight. Why are my lemons being disguised as hundred dollar bills? Why can't they just be round and yellow and have the little LEMON sticker on them?

Well, I'm beginning to think they looked like lemons all the time, but my mind's eye refused to recognize them as such. I was so blinded by what I wanted from the circumstance, that I simply refused to identify it as being something harmful. But of course, hindsight is 20/20 and looking back in my life's rearview mirror, I should have recognized each situation as the lemon that it was. In some cases, while I didn't see the lemon right off, I did get a whiff of a lemony scent, and even then, I demanded that my mind put that thought away immediately. In those cases, I ended up getting burnt, with no one to blame but myself.

How have you dealt with life's lemons? Do you always see them coming from miles away? Or are you like me and have to actually be burnt before you back away?

Your comments--priceless!!

I know! I know! New Year's Day was LAST week! I know!

But because New Year's Day was a Thurs, and most folks had Fri off (lucky buzzards!), TODAY is really New Year's Day.

Today is the day that we get back to our daily grind. The next holiday that I have off is Memorial Day on May 25th, so this is actually the longest stretch of work days that I will have this year.

And I have plans-boy, do I have plans! I'm going to put my head down and work. I plan to have my best year ever. I've already talked to God about it, and I think He's in agreement.

November and December were quiet, with everyone in the festive Holiday mood. All of my prospects told me to call them after the first of the year--HELLO????? That means NOW! Not that I'm racing out of the gate--slow and steady wins the race. Have you ever seen riot control police? They have their shields up and all the riot gear on and they stand in formation and take small steps towards the commotion. Over and over again they smallstep together. And they move crowds! With that little smallstep!

So I'm going to take my cue from them and smallstep towards my crowd of prospects. Perseverance and determination will get me over the finish line. What about you? Are you still in Holiday mode or are you joining me in 09?

Your comments--priceless!