Brandelyn: Lyrical Contradiction

It’s all politics to me...

            As the primary elections begin to loom in the horizon, the candidates are suddenly everywhere, telling me why they are the best person for the job. Of course, a lot of people are amped that there is a legitimate Black candidate who is supposed to represent the black vote. And of course we can’t forget get old Hilary who is supposed to be the first legitimate female candidate who could really shake things up in the White house. But I have to be honest, neither one of them has stolen my heart. On one hand Hilary, my girl, the one who held it down when Bill was in office, is now looking  a little shaky bakey. At one time, Hilary was pretty gangster in her approach to life. She held firm to her beliefs and dared anyone to question her on it. But then as she started moving up in power, she started altering this a little and agreeing with that and now all of a sudden, the woman who was so Anti-war voted yes to give the president authorization to go ahead and fund the war....what? Barbara Lee was the only Senator to have the balls to stand up and say That Ain’t right. Also, aside from the Global Healthcare issues, Hilary’s political platform is more so catered to the upper middle class Americans leaving a lot of us in the cold.

And then there is Mr. Obama. Now, I have to say that I don’t know much about this candidate. I have been told that his platform is definitely geared toward the working middle class group of people and of course he is concerned with education and global healthcare, but I have to be honest, something about him just doesn’t allow me to care. He has not piqued my interested enough to make me want to research him and figure out what he’s about. It seems as though he believes that he already has the Black vote in the bag, so there is no need to truly reach out to Black community, but that is where he’s wrong. If you don’t show any concern for issues within the Black community, if you do not attempt to incorporate yourself into the black community by attending events or making appearances, then to me, you are all talk. There seems to be some sort of disconnect there between him and the black community. I understand that he identifies with the Black community and he definitely claims that part of his identity, but talk and action are two completely different things. I’m just saying.

One thing that is certain is that there is a lot of potential for great changes in this country, but unless one of these candidates steps it up, things just might turn out to be the same thing, different day.

Posted by Brandelyn at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

This is an email that Tyler Perry sent out on his mailing list. I needed to read this this morning. Peace.

This morning I awoke and was so frustrated about all of the stuff that 
I'm dealing with in trying to get this studio open. I was about to 
open my mouth and start complaining when I remembered something that 
happened to me about a year ago.

I was walking to my car when this woman who appeared to be homeless 
started walking towards me. I'm ashamed to say this but I thought, "I 
don't feel like being hustled today." Then I got quickly convicted. I 
felt guilty so I started digging in my pocket for some money. As she 
got closer I noticed that she had the kindest eyes that I had ever 
seen. As I was reaching into my pocket she started to speak. I 
thought, "Here goes the sales pitch". She said "Excuse me sir, I need 
some shoes. Can you help me?" My eyes filled with water because I 
remember being out on the streets and having only one pair of run over 
shoes.  I was taken aback for a second.

I took her inside the studio and had my wardrobe people find shoes in 
her size. As she put the shoes on she started crying, praising God and 
thanking Jesus, and saying, "My feet are off the ground!  My feet are 
off the ground!" Several of the wardrobe people started crying. I was 
crying. But I never forgot those word. "My feet are off the ground!"

I thought, "Wow! All she wanted was some shoes."  She quickly 
disappeared and never asked me for a dime. I realized that I still had 
the money in my hand so I went out looking for her. She was gone just 
that quick so I looked all around the neighborhood for her. I found 
her standing on a corner looking down at her shoes, still crying. I 
was so touched. I asked her how she had gotten homeless. She told me 
that she had AIDS and that she was waiting to get into a shelter.  She 
said that her family had turned their backs on her and that she had no 
place to go, but she knew that God would make a way for her. I said to 
myself, "He just did." Her faith and her praise moved me.

I took her to a nearby hotel and put her up until she was able to get 
on her feet.  I had someone that worked for me to check on her from 
time to time and to make sure that she had food and clothes. After 
about a month or so we lost touch, but I never forgot her.

This past summer I was shooting "Daddy's Little Girls" and this woman 
walks up to me smiling. I didn't recognize her face, but her eyes were 
familiar.  She had on a really nice dress and her hair was done.  It 
was her!  She told me that the little help that I had given her had 
changed her life. She was in a house now and doing very well.

I said all of that to say this. After I met this woman, every time I 
think about complaining and mumbling I remember, "My feet are off the 
ground!"

I wanted to share this with you just to let you know that when I say 
that I am thankful for you, I mean it. And when I say that you are a 
blessing to me, I mean it.  We take so much for granted sometimes that 
I just wanted all of you to know that I am grateful to God for you 
everyday.  Thank you for being in my life.

TP

Posted by Brandelyn at 08:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Losing someone has a way of putting everything into perspective. It’s amazing how many emotions come to light when you are dealing with the death of a loved one. Things you never even realized you felt come spilling over and the only thing you can do is turn to the rest of your loved ones and truly love them.

            In times like these, everything gets really hectic and emotions run high. There are arrangements to be made and loose ends to tie up and everyone has an opinion about how things should happen. But once everything is in place, and the goodbyes have been said and the memories have been relived, things start to come to perspective. For me, I realized just how important my family is to me. We tend to take people and things for granted. We just know that they will be here with us forever, so yeah, I’ll call Nana next week when I get some time, but there are hard core moments like these that show and prove that life is definitely not like that. Each moment and day we have to tell someone we love them is precious. In times like these, petty arguments and grudges just don’t seem important anymore. Not speaking to someone for years because you are mad at them, just doesn’t seem to make sense. What do we honestly gain from being mad? And the truth is, for the most part, after a while, we forget what we are mad about in the first place. Life is too short and relationships are too precious to let pride take over. Sometimes we just need to get over ourselves and learn to be humble. I’m sorry is hard thing to say, but you have to wonder if the relationship you will gain from speaking those two words is more valuable than being able to say, I was right.

Posted by Brandelyn at 08:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Times have been a little rough lately. Last Wednesday, yes Wednesday as in a week ago, I was struck down with a terrible migraine headache. Thinking I could just gangster it with some Ibuprofen and sleep, I took a couple of days off from work and hit the couch. Saturday, I attended a bridal shower and felt fine, UNTIL I got home and laid down. When I woke up, my headache was back with a vengeance and it was just getting started. I thought I could pretend everything was cool, and just head to church, but somewhere along the way, I forgot that I went to a black church, that uses microphones and plays music. I almost ran out of there screaming, but the weakness in my knees prevented that from happening. Monday, I finally buckled down and went to the doctor, and for any of you who knows me well, you know how bad my head must have been for me to venture out to the doctor. So I’m sitting in the little exam room and the doctor comes in slamming doors and screaming at me and I couldn’t understand why. Of course I realize that this was simply from my heightened sensitivity to light and sound, but I was not a fan. So she prescribes vicodin and some other pain killer and sends me on my way. I get home, take the drugs and am literally comatose for the next seven hours. To give you a better example of just how asleep I was...there was construction going on inside of my apartment building AND I had seven missed calls and three text messages on the cell phone that was three inches from my face and did not hear any of it. Your girl was knocked out. The next day was Tuesday and I was still suffering from the headache. So last night, it hit me like a ton of bricks and I couldn’t see out of my left eye and basically, my life was in shambles. So, I went back to Kaiser this morning, got another doctor, a really cool black man who is a Cal alum, go bears, and he could not understand why the other doctor gave me pain medication. He shook his head, ran some tests and prescribed some migraine medication for me. So, 90 dollars later, two doctors appointments and countless hours of sleep later, I should be on my way to recovery. At least I am coherent enough to write this blog, so that’s something right? But I was also instructed to stay away from coffee, chocolate and all other forms of caffeine for the next few weeks, so that should be interesting. But the good thing is that in all of those hours of sleep, I had a lot of dreams of projects I am about to start working on, so all of this was not in vain. I just hope these little pills he gave me start to kick in. Anyway, pray for me y’all!

Peace,

B

Posted by Brandelyn at 12:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Here I am, sitting at work, in between meetings, listening to jazz, watching the sun set and coming down from my coffee high. The low buzz from my heater and cloudy sky is not helping. A slight heaviness rests upon my brow causing my head to nod slightly. Yes, I am sleepy. I really like days like this though, those days where you can curl up in sweats with a cup of tea and a good book. I realize that I need some down time. I’ve been so busy just living my life, that I don’t have much down time. Not that I am complaining. Just the opposite. I have been so creatively busy that the only time I slow down is to sleep, so it doesn’t even really feel like work. I really love the place I’m in. God and I have been chillen, working things out, Blair (my car) and I have been getting to know each other, even Dino has been chillen. Life is good.

            The other day a friend of mine asked me to write a short piece, a music review, for the magazine she works for and of course I jumped on it with two feet and a pogo stick. It was funny because as I sat there listening to the music and working on my review, I had a moment. I realized that I was exactly where I wanted to be. I literally worked on those two reviews all day and finished my article for the magazine in New York that I write for. I was in heaven. I realized that the decisions I have been making recently are God decisions and this transition I am making is a God move. I feel like for the first time I can and am willing to call myself a writer. I know that it is going to take time for things to fall into place and for me to get where I want to get, but I’m okay with that because I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am on track. And happy no less. So as I sit here at work, in between meetings, listening to jazz, watching the sun set and falling desperately from my coffee high, I realize that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I may not have a completely clear indication of what the future holds, or how I am going to get there, but I know that I am on track. So please, check out my work, let me know what you think, because soon (and yes, I am claiming this) there is going to be much much more for us to talk about!

Peace Y’all

B

www.empressmag.com

www.vaporsmagazine.com (Anthony Hamilton review)

Posted by Brandelyn at 05:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I feel like I have been away for a while. I haven’t blogged because I have been so busy (in a good way) that I’ve been neglecting my duties. But I have to say that things are going really well. I am settling into the new apartment, I am thoroughly enjoying the freedom of having a vehicle and umerah...God is constantly shining down on me, so I can’t complain. All is well on the writing front, and I will have some things to share with y’all coming up soon, so no worries. All of this time away has not been idol time. So stay tuned.

Now that I am living in Oakland, I have to say that I am quite surprised at the vast differences between living in Berkeley and living in Oakland. For one thing, I have seen a lot less homeless people than I’m used to. There are no more familiar faces asking for money and cussing you out when you don’t give it to them. There are also a surprisingly wide variety of birds in Oakland. I understand that this is due mostly to the central location of Lake Merritt, but in stead of simply having pigeons and Sea gulls; we have ducks, geese, some other weird looking bird with really ugly feet and some other rather large birds that have no qualms with flying extremely close to your head. I’m just saying. Another thing I have noticed is that the people of Oakland are not bad drivers. I used to think that people were just naturally retarded whenever they started driving in Oakland, but the truth is, it’s not their fault. The streets are so bad, filled with vicious pot holes and uneven gravely streets that people have to swerve all over the place and drive unreasonably slow in order to avoid leaving their transmission on the street corner. Another thing I’ve noticed is that things are open quite a bit later in Oakland than in Berkeley. I, naturally being a night owl, no longer find it necessary to get up early and find time to work. Instead, I can head over to my now local coffee shop and work until almost midnight! Touché Oakland, I see you.  I also have two words for those in the know...Merritt Bakery...*drops the mic.

*Picks mic back up after waving hands in the air in praise....Oakland also has what I like to call a middle ground. Berkeley has three areas, really expensive homes, Hood and Cal. Oakland has areas that are hood, extremely expensive and of course, all things in between. I appreciate that. Being someone who is from the streets *shout out to Amarra, Super duper fancy neighborhoods that include gated communities and neighbors meeting in their driveways in the morning to discuss current events, kind of make me nervous. Of course I have never been a fan of falling asleep to the sound of gunshots either. So where I am now, is the perfect middle ground. I love it.

All and all I have to say that I am an advocate for Oakland living. It definitely gets B’s stamp of approval. Well, I have a date with the lake, but I’ll Holla!

Peace Y’all

B

Posted by Brandelyn at 02:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)