7 Interesting Things About Mista Jaycee

I stopped in to read Assertive Wit's blog and she posted 7 interesting things about herself. I think it would be fun to try this. Y'all should follow suit!

http://assertivewitwithatouchofsarcasm.blogspot.com/

1. Mista Jaycee hates "Sticky" Fruit! Is that weird? I love Oranges, but hate the stickiness it leaves on my hands! Gross! This goes for lotions and that greasy feeling too. I don't know why. It just is.

2. Back in College, in my Sophomore year, I had the part of Eunuch # 1 in the Opera "Esther"! I sang..."Oh King Vashti, Live Forever! Queen Esther has come to talk with the King!" The part of Queen Esther was played by Soprano Angela Brown, who went on to become a Soprano, for the New York Metropolitan Opera.

3. I had never seen real snow until I was 18 and in college. I wore jeans, a sweat shirt, a windbreaker and an LA Kings Hat for the Winter snow! Can you say COLD?

4. If I had gone home to watch the Simpson's, instead of hanging out with my friend, I never would have met Mrs. Jaycee.

5. Mista Jaycee is allergic to Shrimp and Catfish!

6. I don't like the color green.

7. Mista Jaycee was a preemie Baby born 2 pounds, 2 ounces.

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Mista Jaycee is Stretchin Ouuuuuuut!

I started Yoga blog! It's called Mista Jaycee's Stretchin Ouuuuuut!

http://stretchinout.blogspot.com/

I've been practicing Kriya Yoga as taught by Yogiar S.A.A. Ramiah on and off for a year. I enjoy it and feel it would be interesting to share my Yoga practice experience with all of y'all.

http://stretchinout.blogspot.com/

So, after y'all finish reading A Choice of Weapons, you can check out how my practice is coming along.

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Friends???

Jake: "You just killed your Friend!"

Alonzo: " Why is he my friend Jake? Cause he knows my name?" Scene from Training Day

Years ago, an older dude, I went to college with peeped game. Jay, You have No friends! That does not exist. He then went on to explain and teach me his criteria. Big Will

Big Will's Criteria

We have no friends! In truth you have....

General

1. Associates

2. Affiliates

3. Constituents

Intimate

1. Close Associates

2. Close Affiliates

3. Close Constituents

The subject of Friends and how we label someone a Friend is subjective. Who are your "Friends"?

How did you begin to consider them worthy of that?

For example, I worked with a fella, who when I was having car trouble, gave me a ride to a bus stop in Long Beach. This shaved off about an hour of my commute time everyday until I was able to get my car running again. We had great conversations, shared jokes and we also shared music and had each others personal emails.

Friends?

Well, we could have been. But no! Co-workers! That was the correct designation. Not Friends! He'd said, more than enough things, that let me know he was not a friend. Friends, don't talk ish about you or belittle you. They don't!

For me, because we traded music, had each others personal emails and shared conversations and jokes, I thought we were friends. Those things were intimate and personal to me. Those were things that I reserved for people I valued. When I first started to perform in the Poetry/Spoken Word Scenes I met people under their Stage Names.

People know me now under my Stage Name or Pen Name. Mista Jaycee! Very few people ever get to know me under my Government name. Were we friends?

No, we were Associates, Close Associates and Affiliates. We had the building blocks for friendship though. We shared common interests. But, we were also in direct competition with one another. We are performers! All of us want to be commercially successful!

Now, back to the dude at work. For him, it didn't mean that! We didn't value the same things or have the same criteria for friendship. In that case being just Co-Workers is a proper definition.

For the sake of discussion, I think he's a bit of a A-hole! But it serves as a good illustration of what I mean.

I listen to my Daughter, and many other people, and they all complain about this very same issue. It covers the entire spectrum of people. I see it pop up on Myspace and Facebook and even, in the Bloggosphere. Friends!

The dictionary doesn't have the meaning of Friends! Whodini! 1984

I memorized Big Wills criteria for defining friendship. I look back on it, at least once, every six months. I believe that friendship is possible and does exist. I even, believe it, can exist ,beyond the Platonic status between the sexes. I even believe it can exist, after the sexes, have shared imitate moments. (Had Sex)

Of Course, it takes work, and more often than not, it doesn't work. But sometimes it does. I think it depends on what you value and why you value that person.

Why is or was this person considered your friend? Was it cause you worked together a long time? Cause they bought you lunch? That doesn't constitute friendship! It doesn't! The food they brought was a 2 for 1 deal from Jack in the Box! It didn't cost much and they gave you a taco to keep they own weight down!

You went to school together! So! Do they call you just to ask how you are doing? Maybe they send a Christmas card but do they even call enough to know you converted to being a Buddhist?

Are you friends? Did you share your conversion with them? Why? Why not? Distance? Email will shorten that! Why? or Why Not?

See, just cause you went to school together and you were friends back then does not mean that you are friends now. Sure, the commonality of having been school mates is a solid building block but TIME, facilitates CHANGE! People change over time. You were drinking buddies, but now you don't drink! You were a party animal! A freak in the Bed! Now, you a Church going Man or Woman. Are you still friends?

If you DE-Friended someone on Facebook, did they notice? Did they contact you and ask why? If not why not?

I didn't accept Will's criteria of Friendship but it does serve as an instruction to me. I would hope that in life we would have true friends. The truest being God (IAM) and Yeshua (Jesus) but life being impermanent has shown me more than enough that Will wasn't that off.

Who do you consider your friend?

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Clown Post Office Commercial... serious?

See, I told YOU! Clowns are just.....EVIL!

Jaycee

This is Funnie!

A girl asks her boyfriend to come over Friday night to meet, and have a dinner with her parents.

Since this is such a big event, the girl announces to her boyfriend that after dinner, she would like to go out and make love for the first time.

The boy is ecstatic, but he has never had sex before, so he takes a trip to the pharmacist to get some condoms.

He tells the pharmacist it 's his first time and the pharmacist helps the boy for about an hour. He tells the boy everything there is to know about condoms and sex.

At the register, the pharmacist asks the boy how many condoms he'd like to buy, a 3-pack, a 6-pack, or family pack. The boy insists on the family pack because he thinks he will be rather busy, it being his first time and all.

That night, the boy shows up at the girl's parents house and meets his girlfriend at the door. 'Oh, I'm so excited for you to meet my parents, come on in!' The boy goes inside and is taken to the dinner table where the girl's parents are seated.

The boy quickly offers to say grace and bows his head. A minute passes, and the boy is still deep in prayer, with his head down. 10 minutes pass, and still no movement from the boy.

Finally, after 20 minutes with his head down, the girlfriend leans over and whispers to the boyfriend, 'I had no idea you were this religious.' The boy turns, and whispers back, 'I had no idea your father was a pharmacist.'

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Mystery Writer Robert Parker Passes!

Spenser For Hire Novelist Robert Parker with Pearl

Spenser for Hire Novelist Robert Parker has passed after suffering a heart attack while writing at his desk. I loved the Television series starring the Late Robert Ulrich and Actor Avery Brooks and I began to read the novels that inspired the series.

Spenser, spelled like the 16th Century Poet, Edmund Spenser, will be compared to other fictional Private Detectives Philip Marlowe and the rest but this would be actuate but unfair. The "Spenser" character pioneered the "Modern" PI.

The characters of Philip K. Dick and Raymond Chandler were gritty, hard living denizens of the late 19th and Early 20th Century. Those characters resemble the Anti-Hero archetype. These were not nice guys! These dudes often ,were only a hair away, from being the criminals they pursued.

Not Spenser, he was well read, well educated, and lived well. He had a nice home, a steady Girlfriend, ate well, and had a Afrikan American Best Friend/Nemesis named "Hawk.

"Hawk" is the perfect counterpoint to Spenser. They both live by a strict moral code. Both possess high ethical standards, little patience for red tape and no tolerance for fools! Spenser has a strict Catholic faith, whereas Hawk never openly professes any faith. I personally always thought Hawk was a Muslim.

Spenser: " I thought you didn't do Christmas"

Hawk: "I Don't! But some people I love Do!"

I Love that!

To me, Parker paved the way for Novelist James Patterson, who's Dr. Alex Cross character, is an Afrikan American Homicide Detective with a Doctorate in Psychology. He too is fierce Family Man with education and high tastes. In that, he changed the landscape of Mystery literature.

Thanks Robert Parker, rest well until the last day. I will take a little more time, now to read and re-read your novels.

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!
Jaycee

Why Dr. King Was in Memphis?

Happy MLK Day!

Why was Dr. King in Memphis in April 1968? This question, is paramount for us, to attempt to explain his importance, and his impact, on the struggle for Civil and Human Rights; Yet, it is the least asked, most neglected, and ironically, the most important.

Why was Dr. King in Memphis in April 1968?

He was there to bring attention to Striking "Garbage" Workers! Working Men! Dr. King had been on the Poor Peoples Crusade! The March for Economic Justice! Instead of just fighting segregation in the South, he now had moved on to Low wages, lack of jobs and job opportunities and the great divide between Rich and Poor.

Since, the Status Quo remains, and the great rift separating Rich and Poor,is wider than ever Dr King's efforts were not successful and the movement has only been incrementally successful.

Striking garbage workers!

Dr. King was a Minister first! A Christian Minister who believed and practiced the tenets of Christ!

"What you do to the least of these you do also to Me!"

That's why he was there! That's why he preached the Mountain Top Sermon! He was there for the least of them! Striking Garbage Workers!

So, now as we all rally to help Haiti, and discuss Dr. King's legacy, let us remember that his true focal point was to follow Jesus Christ and to emulate Christ's example.

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Kongo Square Chat with Chocolate Orchid

Natural Hair Care/Natural Food Writer Chocolate Orchid

Warning the Interview you are about to read will make you think! It will require that you behave as a grown up and above all else, USE common sense!

Chocolate Orchid is NOT a Licensed Nutritionist/Dietitian and is not offering any Medical advice. Get it?

Please consult a Physician or a Licensed Nutritionist, Dietitian or Certified Personal Trainer about diet and physical health. A Choice of Weapons, Chocolate Orchid are not responsible if you twist yo legs behind yo neck or some crazy type of ish! Mista Jaycee

Hey Y'all, welcome to the first Kongo Square Chat for 2010. It is my pleasure to welcome the writer and fellow blogger Chocolate Orchid to A Choice of Weapons.

http://chocolateorchid.blogspot.com/


Jaycee: Thanks for joining us. I've followed your blog Chocolate Orchid for a while and have enjoyed it tremendously. By the way, I tried the Chia Seeds.

Chocolate Orchid: Really? What did you think?

Jaycee: I really enjoyed them in food. I tried them in juice but they would just stick to the sides of the cup after they began to expand. But I had a lot of energy and felt full.

Chocolate Orchid: I'm glad you tried it.

Jaycee: You weren't kidding about that gas problem though. Whooo! (Laughter) It did act as a whish broom for my colon. Well, enough about my colon:

Chocolate Orchid: (Laughter) Thank You!

Jaycee: What got you interested in nutrition and natural hair care?

Chocolate Orchid: I think I’ve always had an underlying interest in nutrition. I grew up seeing my father jog and exercise on a daily basis. He was the one who decided to change from eating white bread to wheat bread so consequently I believe he laid the foundation to my consciousness about health. On the flip side of that, my growing up my eating was not the best. Both of my parents worked full-time so especially after their divorce, my mother did what most single mom’s back in the day did. They relied on fast food to feed the kids because they had to bring the money in which took up a lot of time.

Unfortunately, eating McDonald’s all the time along with little exercise resulted in me being quite obese. Being a young teen and weighing in at 180+ lbs was not a great combo.

At some point in high school, my mother enrolled us both in (watch out for an age-spoiler alert) a Richard Simmons gym. They talked to us about eating properly and had some great exercise classes. I lost weight. And being a typical teen girl, wanted to be cute for the boys, so I was on a mission. By the time I hit my Junior/Senior year of high school, I had slimmed down to around 130 lbs.

Then came college. Little money + late night snacking + a Krystal’s on the corner = a combo ripe for weight gain. So from there my weight/nutrition fluctuated until about age 23 when I regained my desire to focus on nutrition and exercise. So I would say, my history with being overweight was my basic motivating factor. These days, it’s still about looking good but a lot more about not wanting to be a diabetic which runs strong in my family.

Jaycee: Ah, Krystal's, the Southern equivalent of White Castles. I too, am a victim of their deliciously crafted debauchery! (Laughter)

Chocolate Orchid: Now natural hair is a whole other story. I’ve always admired women who wore their hair natural. Always! I just didn’t have the guts or "self" to go for it until a motivating experience put me into the "Screw it.!Life’s too short to live worrying about what other people may think. I’m gonna do me mode!".

So a little over 2 years ago, I had all the relaxer in my hair whacked off. No more than 2 inches of hair on my head and I was so happy. I felt like I was rediscovering myself. And I loved it and me!! When I think about it, natural health, whole nutrition and natural hair all go hand in hand.

Jaycee: Since, you’ve began writing on natural hair care what have you "focused" on when speaking on Afrikan American hair? Is it the hairstyles or maybe diet or lifestyle additives that Men and Women may be adding to their hair? For example, Mary J. Blige has used hair weave, blond hair color and others swear by the perm or lye relaxer.

Chocolate Orchid: My focus is more on loving the hair that was given to you by God. Don’t get me wrong, I have no issue with a weave (every once in a while) or color to mix things up a bit but when you consciously or subconsciously think that your God-given hair is ugly or unattractive or that it’s not good, there is a problem.

I understand that we were conditioned to think this way about ourselves. I do understand that this stems back to the days of slavery so it really makes my heart ache to see people who still live under this veil of thought. My wish is that every woman knows that her hair, from the kinkiest of kinks to silkiest of silks is beautiful. I think once we embrace, accept and love our hair and physical features, then the general level of self-esteem will rocket up.

Jaycee: I grew up with the Seventh Day Adventist Health Message where the vegetarian diet was strongly promoted along with abstaining from alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine. It’s a good lifestyle but it was not main stream. Going Veg has now become more main stream. That said, I’ve seen a lot of fat vegetarians!

What are we doing wrong? (Laughter) Are we supposed to be losing weight and showing a more natural physique?

Chocolate Orchid: (tickled) Well, I’ll say this. Fat is fat! Good or bad, if you eat a lot of it it will still put the weight on you. Especially, if you eat a lot of it with little to no exercise. That being said, smaller proportions are always in order.

There is nothing good about overeating, even in the "veg" world. Avocados and nuts contain a good amount of fat. So you definitely can still be overweight as a vegetarian, vegan and raw-vegan.

Personally, I do believe that our physique’s should be more natural. And that’s not to say that everyone’s natural physique is small. I believe with the right lifestyle it should level off. But keep in mind, that everyone is different, so everyone’s natural physique will still vary.

Jaycee: Now on the other side, I’ve seen a lot of folks undertake lifestyle/diet changes are their appearance radically changes! They look unhealthy, skeletal and weird. What are we doing wrong? (Laughter) Where is the balance?

Chocolate Orchid: Again, it boils down to balance. Looking gaunt is not healthy. You’ve gotta have balance. Include fats. It does'nt mean to overindulge in them but our bodies do need some fat.

Jaycee: Are you vegetarian, vegan or a raw foodist? Why? How long? If you switched then how long and why? (Laughter)

Chocolate Orchid: At this point, I would call myself a "practicing" raw vegan or raw foodist. My goal is to have a lifestyle that includes consuming 75% raw foods. Raw and living foods consist of all fruits, vegetables, sprouts, nuts, seeds, grains, sea vegetables and other plant-based organic/natural foods that have not been processed or cooked.

It is food that have not been heated over 116 degrees to preserve their vitamin, enzymes and minerals content. That way, during the digestive process your cells are actually getting nourished and fed. Cooking destroys the very things that your body needs to function properly. Honestly, it is not my goal to be 100% raw or even 100% vegan. I still believe that you do need some animal product in your diet (at least I do) and until or unless my body tells me otherwise, I will continue to have some. By the way, I strongly believe in getting in tune to "your" bodies needs.

I just believe that animal food and by-product intake should be very minimal. We really don’t need animal protein the way it’s pushed on us through advertising. The Standard American Diet’s (also referred to as S.A.D.) promotion of animal consumption is all about greed and over-indulgence which has lead to some pretty horrific treatment of animals. Then on top of all this, the processing of not only animal and plant-based foods is insane and leads to toxicity in people which of course leads to more sick folk.

But of course, all of this is right up the alley of the Pharmaceutical industry. But I won’t go there today. It’s just a horrible cycle that I absolutely abhor. That being said, if you eat meat I believe it’s best to stick to those that are raised in open and humane environments with free of additives or antibiotics. Free range is always best in my book. Ideal would be to have local farms to go to. My interest in the raw foods lifestyle was sparked by a detox that I was going to do which required that you eat that way. This was about a year or so ago.

Jaycee: Was it a spiritual or political decision?

Chocolate Orchid: It definitely was Not a political decision! I guess I’ll go with spiritual in the sense that it began with me wanting to improve myself, which included, being a healthier person. Now, it’s becoming more.

I’m a lot more conscious about my food choices, how the food was treated/grown and where it came from or where it was grown. I even find myself looking to see if fair trade is involved in the process. It’s funny but I never envisioned myself as the person who believed in "conscious" eating but everyday I’m finding myself considering all things as it relates to the fair treatment of the environment, people and animals more and more. I’m definitely still evolving.

Jaycee: Have you read Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle"? That will change your view on eating meat and the Meat packing industry.

Chocolate Orchid: No, haven't read that yet.

Jaycee: After that book was released, congress passed the Pure Food and Drug Act and created the Food and Drug Administration.

Jaycee: Did you under go any negative changes with the diet/lifestyle change? Who did you consult and what did you read to find out why and change it?

Chocolate Orchid: But of course! *laughs*

When you go against the grain the mass, you’re always gonna get the "side-eye".

It’s cool though!

I know that my journey is encouraging, inspiring, and rubbing-off, on some folks. So it’s all good!

Physically, you can (and I have) experience detoxification symptoms, which may or may not include, some or a few, of the following: nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, bad breath, bad body odor, etc etc. It’s not pretty but a necessary part of the process.

Jaycee: Uh Oh! There's that disclaimer we always see on the drug commercials! May cause Bad Breath, Nausea, (Laughter)

Chocolate Orchid: Hmm, who did I consult?

Well, I had heard about the "raw vegan" lifestyle when I was considering doing a super detox that would have required me to eat that way. I didn’t do it because I was turned off by the amount supplements and vitamins that I would have had to take on a daily basis. I ended up finding a local raw foods chef and spoke with her about it.


Jaycee: Do you remember her name?

Chef Jenya Hampton

Chocolate Orchid: Her name was Chef Jenya Hampton. Unfortunately, she moved to Arizona. She told me that eating a raw vegan diet alone would cause you to detox so all that extra stuff wasn't really necessary and probably would be too much on my body. I’m glad I made that call to her. It was unfortunate for me that she's moved, but I’ve found someone else, Carolyn Akens (a master raw foods chef and coach), whom I plan on working closely with. She just doesn't know it yet but she's gonna be getting some business from me.

Raw Food Chef Carolyn Akens

Outside of that, I joined a meet up group and began doing a lot of research on my own through the Internet, books and local seminars/speaking sessions. It really does help to surround yourself with the information you seek, and a variety of people who are where you want to be and/or doing what you want to do.

Jaycee: Afrikan American folks come in all shapes and sizes so what’s natural for us?
I’m 5’8 and I remember that I felt great at 167 pounds but my Doctor was always pointing to the body mass index and said I needed to be 130. I would look like a pipe cleaner at that weight! I did! (Laughter)

Chocolate Orchid: Glad you brought that up. I honestly don’t put too much stock into those things because everybody’s body is unique. I think it’s way too general.

You have to be specific to your body’s needs and I’m sure that requires a lot more than detail than going by the basic general index. Everybody’s physical makeup is different. Everyone’s hereditary traits are different. So I don’t think people should strictly go by the body mass index.

Everyone is not going to be, or should try, to be naturally thin. That, also goes, for those who are trying to be voluptuous (say Beyonce-esque or J-Lo-ish). It just does'nt work like that!

Blogger/Model Fibi Love photo used by permission

As I stated before, getting in tune with "your" body and its needs is most important.

What somebody else does, may not be, what you need to do? Someone else’s slenderness may not be for you. Neither is someone’s voluptuousness.

Jaycee: Yeah, I remember reading about Video Model Buffy The Body and how she advised that she used a weight gainer over several months to bulk up. She stated that she was a natural size two with a large butt, which most of the Women in her family had as well but wanted a Va Va Voom type of shape. So she used a weight gainer to bulk up to a six or an eight.

Chocolate Orchid: Believe me, I’d love to have a fully matured Badonkadonk, with matching hips, but that was not my lot. I missed that "set your drink on top of the booty" type giveaway.

Jaycee: A Choice of Weapons will now pause for station identification while we examine Chocolate Orchid's Tushie. (It's for the INTERVIEW!) (Laughter)

Ok, we are back! With the interview in progress!

Chocolate Orchid: And that’s okay. As long as I’m working on doing what it takes for my body to function at an optimal level, I’m good. I’ve considered getting blood chemistry or profile test done to see what my body’s specific needs are. Reaching my natural weight is one of my goals for this year so I expect to be able to speak more on that by the summer or fall.

Jaycee: As far as the Ladies, most of ours, have curves! Even an Afrikan American, size 4 can have a large butt. So what would you say about a Woman’s shape that is realistic? I see some struggling over a lifetime to lose they Butt or some biological feature that can’t be lost! What’s the biggest misconception on diet and natural hair care that you’ve seen? What’s your pet peeve? (s)

Chocolate Orchid: I think the biggest misconception is that eating like this is a "white" thing. I hate to hear that because that so not true. Or another one is that they feel they’ll be required to wear a turban on their head and walk around barefoot all the time. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. But it’s such bull!

I believe people use those as an excuse to not even try and to hold onto to bad habits and lifestyles. This is an all-inclusive lifestyle for everybody. Not sure if I’m answering your question, but I do see more people of color interest in a raw vegan lifestyle .

Jaycee: Do you practice Yoga or Tai Chi? Do you lift weights or do a lot of cardio? What role does exercise play in diet and natural hair care?

Chocolate Orchid: Yoga. I love yoga! I just started practicing it last year. I think everyone should do it or at least give it a try. I also love all kinds of cardio. I'm also feelin' belly dancing. Weights are okay. I just don’t like to do them too much because I find that I gain muscle easy. And I sure as hell don’t want to look hard. I believe that once my intake is more consistent it will level out. But I’m still in the process so I won’t really be able to say until later on this year.

I will say this, when you're consistently giving your best in a workout you definitely think twice about what you put in your mouth. After all, who wants to waste a great workout?
Jaycee: I practice Kriya Yoga and still practice Yang Style Tai Chi Chuan. I love both Art/Sports.

Stunt Woman of the Year Angela Meryl

Jaycee: So I don’t have to convert to eating alfalfa spouts, pine nuts and Swiss chard to be healthy do I? I love the taste of spicy chicken! What changes can I make without buying out the Trader Joes or Whole Foods? (Laughter)

Chocolate Orchid: What chu talkin’ bout, Willis?! Those foods are da bomb-tastic!! (Laughter)

Ha ha ha!! I don’t think anything’s wrong with the spicy chicken. Just be picky about where it came from and how it was raised and processed. Also, maybe commit to gradually decreasing the number of times that you eat it within a month.

Mista Jaycee shaking his head No!

Chocolate Orchid: Not feeling that, well how about this?

Work on increasing your salad intake. Maybe work on increasing your fresh fruit and vegetable intake. Try making a plate that 3 parts raw vegan to 1 part animal protein. Go from there and see where that will take you. And take note on how your body feels!

Mista Jaycee shaking his head No!

Chocolate Orchid: Try instituting "Meatless Mondays" in your lifestyle. Or maybe, have a green smoothie, or fresh vegetable juice in the morning to start your day. Take baby steps. I definitely would'nt go at it cold-turkey. I’ve tried that plenty of times and I suck at it.

Mista Jaycee shaking his head No!

And yes, Whole Foods gets me, also. I recommend making an acquaintance with your local farmer’s market. I’m always pleasantly surprised, at the things, I can get and the prices, that I can get them, for at the market. Just the other day I went to my farmer’s market and found organic raw honey that was farmed locally.

Mista Jaycee shaking his head No!

Maybe even consider becoming a part of a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) which is becoming a popular way for people to buy local and seasonal organic produce. You can find one near you buy visiting http://www.localharvest.org/.

Mista Jaycee shaking his head No!

Jaycee: Were you heavy or did you have health problems?

Chocolate Orchid: Going into the raw vegan lifestyle, I wasn’t heavy. Going back and forth along with stress and an inconsistent workout regimen has made me a little more "thick" than I like to be but I’m working on that. But I am in the process.

Jaycee: Some Women I know grew lox when their hair began to recede. Did you experience that?

Chocolate Orchid: No, I’ve never had a receding hairline. What I did experience was my hair thinning out over time. I knew it was the chemicals and I knew that it would be best to give them up. It just took a life realization experience to get me there.

Jaycee: What would you like to say to our A Choice of Weapons/Chocolate Orchid and Blogosphere families?

Chocolate Orchid: First, I want and pray that you all realize how beautiful you are. Forget about what mainstream society has told you and what the media tries to show you. Go look in the mirror and see and accept the beauty that you were blessed with. Take note of it, and realize, that such a beautiful ,and unique creation, is worthy of great care. Secondly, that you are valuable to this world. I believe that we all were born for a reason and purpose specific to this life and effecting the lives after ours. Once we realize that, I believe that we will automatically take care about how we treat ourselves... our bodies, our spirits, each other and this earth. It's like a snowball effect. Understand that, realize your worth, then, act accordingly.

You can read Chocolate Orchid daily at http://chocolateorchid.blogspot.com/

Jaycee: Again, thanks for doing the interview. I certainly enjoyed it and I hope that you did as well. Very special thanks to Blogger/Model Fibi Love for permission to use the photos. http://www.fibilove.com/

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

The Bear! Teddy Pendergrass has Passed!

Teddy Pendergrass has passed away and is now awaiting the return of the Lord and his Resurrection. May the God (IAM) continue to bless and comfort his family. The "Bear" is gone!
Can you believe it? That Voice! That Charisma! That Delivery! Those Looks! Those Songs!

Philly Soul Super Producers Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff may have written the songs that we still groove to or make love to but they needed someone with the power to bring them to LIFE!
Oh, and did Teddy Pendergrass ever bring a song to LIFE!

Rest for yet a little while Teddy P!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!
Jaycee

Gil,Your Team used to BE named the Bullets! The Death Of The Thug Fantasy!

Washington Wizards Player Gilbert Arenas

NBA All Star Gilbert Arenas, Agent Zero, has been suspended indefinitely without pay for bringing weapons to an NBA Facility. That's right, Agent Zero, is bout to get Nothing! NOTHING!

One more time!

NOTHING!

Years ago, back in the dark ages of the 1990's, Chicago Bulls Forward Scottie Pippen, was arrested for having a loaded 380. on his car seat as he drove to an ATM machine at two in the morning. Hey, it was an ATM in Chi-town at two in the Morning! Tall Black Dude with a Fancy Car. Yeah, I would have had the pistol too!

Explainable! Understandable!

The Baltimore/Washington Wizards original Name and Logo

But what I believe has occurred is not limited to Gilbert Arenas or NFL player Plaxico Burgess alone! No, this appears to be another case of young dudes living out his THUG Fantasy! Remember Adam "Pac Man" Jones? "He made it rain in that strip club!"

Just like the song! Threw out all that money for the dancers and every thief jumped to steal it! When it resulted in a shootout, he got arrested, suspended from the NFL and still has not regained any professional or financial upward mobility since.

Thug Fantasy: While a Thug Fantasy closely resembles a Nigga Moment, it is its own unique parameters. A Nigga Moment can be defined as a singular or series of incidents caused by overinflated Egos, Machismo and utter Stupidity! In other words, "you was looking at me wrong so I had to kill you! "

However, the Thug Fantasy is stems from some ignorant asses need to prove himself! A Social Impotence if you will.

News Flash!

Gilbert, Plaxico, and assorted Dumb Asses! Y'all are NOT THUGS! You can not purchase street cred! If you were a Thug or a Gangsta you would BE doing that! Not playing football or some other sport! You have to EARN REAL Street cred! You have to earn it!

Sankiya Shakur AKA Monsta Kody quoted one of his mentors, T-Ball, in his autobiography "Monster".

T-Ball stated " Gangbanging (Gangsterism) ain't no part time thang! It's a career!"

A Career which means Thugs and Gangstas been preparing for it they whole life! Some since grade school! They've gone to the Juvenile Halls, the Youth Authority, The Prisons! They've done all the dirt and had it all done to them!

Now, here come yo ball playin ass trying to buy Gangsta! See, they were breakin in houses! You were running wind sprints! Gangstas were solely selling crack! You were shooting a jump shot!

You both ran the same distance in 4.4 but you did it without having a bullet chasing you!

They Gangsta! You.....An Athlete! Do you deserve to BE one! Maybe not! But you are! You've made tons of money, and now, you want to throw, it all away to impress who? Some dude whose every waking moment is a "Nigga Moment"?

Gilbert, there i a reason Washington changed it's name from the BULLETS to the WIZARDS!

MURDER! BLOOD! MAYHEM! DESTRUCTION!

Too Many dreams turned into nightmares! The streets of Baltimore and Washington D.C. still cry out for relief and you do something as dumb as brandishing a Gun.

All Y'all Gangsta/Thug wannabe fools had better take note of Gilbert and Plaxico! Your Thug Fantasy can go real wrong, real quick and you may find yourself living out your THUG Fantasy for REAL?

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Mista Jaycee Welcomes the New Readers

I would like to take a lil time to welcome all the new readers to A Choice of Weapons and acknowledge all the new followers who have joined the fun. First, welcome and in the name of the God, I AM THAT I AM, BE Blessed in advance.

A Choice of Weapons is the name of Writer/Photographer/Musician/Filmmaker Gordon Parks Sr. first autobiography. He is one of my personal inspirations and the blog is named in honor of him.

My Weapons of Choice are Prayer, Meditation, Yoga, Comedy, Photography, Poetry, Music, Writing and I hope that this blog will help to usher in positive change. What weapons will you choose?

So, let me take time to shout out all my long time supporters like Fungke Blak Chick, Rippa, Daisy Deadhead, Curvacous in the City , Ann Brock, Chocolate Orchid and Ugly Black John. If I didn't mention you, trust, you will be mentioned soon.

And to the newest Followers. Ebony Haywood, Ultfan67, Greg Skiffer, Larae Givens, Hot Ass Music, Anna Renee, Betty Manousos, Jenny DB, The Virgin Queen, Zodiac, JStar, Snkrhead5, Secretia, Angel, Jesse Mendez, Skeezerrr, Nia Imani, Da Kween, Fibi Love, Cliff and my Man from my Hometown Compton, CA Think Go Hard. (Hub City Love)

Welcome to A Choice of Weapons. Take some time and read the older posts, leave comments, and most of all enjoy yourself.

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Effin Harry Reid!

This weekend various news agencies spent time reporting that Sen. Harry Reid D. (NV) stated that then, Presidential Candidate, Barack Obama, would be received well by the public because he is a "Light Skinned Negro, who speaks without any Negro dialect unless he wants to."

Hummmm!

Is it just me or was it a slow weekend for news? Let me check!

The Authors of the book "Game Change" quote a so called close friend of the Late Sen. Ted Kennedy D. (Mass.) on why he decided to endorse then Presidential Candidate, Sen. Barack Obama over Sen. Hillary Clinton. President Bill Clinton supposedly said " A few years ago, he would have been bringing us coffee." A remark Sen. Kennedy was allegedly very offended by.

Now viewing both sets of quotes in scope, I ask, are they racist? The Republican Intelligentsia (Oxymoron) seems to think that Sen. Harry Reid's comment ranks right up there with Sen. Trent Lott's R. (Miss) quote where folks called for his resignation a few years back.

"We would have been better off if (Strom Thurmond) you had won the Presidential election of 1948 on the Segregationist Party Ticket."

What do all these quotes have in common? They're unfiltered! That's fine as far as I'm concerned. I'm a realist! Who expected Obama to win? No one! These quotes point out the arrogance alot of folks in the halls of power have.

I'm no fan of Harry Reid or most of the current Democratic leadership, including Speaker Pelosi. If they resigned or were voted out tomorrow I would not shed a tear. Not one! They've been obstructionist to the real progressive agenda since the first!

But, Reid should not step down! For what? Sharing the same point of view as his critics? There were Black Folks who said the same thing! Pastor Jesse Jackson, miked, off camera,
in an unfiltered moment, stated that "Barack Obama was talking down to Black Folks and he wanted to cut that Niggas nuts off!"

The Republicans don't really care about Harry Reid's point of view! They just want to divert the Congress from the real issues with this petty, political bullshit to score a few points in an election year!

News Flash!

The American Public still rates Congress very Low! They don't like y'alls behind! That's Republican and Democrat alike! Why not try actually working on getting Americans back to work, helping them keep their houses?

Oh, too much like work huh? Well, you must be still tired, from helping the Banks and Insurance Companies! The payments have to be made on those Yachts and Mansions! Gotta make sure that they get those multi million dollar bonuses even as the country implodes!

They say when Rome burned, Nero played his fiddle! Wonder what they will say about this congress?!!!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!
Jaycee

Are You Kidding Me?

In the last two days I've read blurbs on Jay Z and the Occult. Over the past two years, I've read blurbs on Kanye and Jay Z being Freemasons, members of the Illuminati and so on. I've even read one post on Face book about backward masking. (Subliminal Messages)

1. You listen to a record for what it says forward not what it says backwards.

2. There is no need to worry about what is being projected into your subconscious mind if you are not concerned with what is being projected into your conscious mind.

3. Rebel images sell records!

Shawn Carter is 42! He's a senior citizen as far as the Rap Game is concerned. He wants and needs to sell records and anything that keeps the public talking about him is a good thing. All Publicity is good Publicity.

So what if he is a Freemason! It wouldn't matter if he was a member of Omega Psi Phi or the Elks. All are Private Fraternal organizations! All use Rituals! All rituals are closed to the public.

Is Jay-Z Satanic or using occult powers to advance his career? Don't know! Don't care!

Reality Check!

Jay-Z once called himself JAY HOVA! If that don't give you pause, then what are you waiting on.

He has been referred to as the GOD Emcee! So has Rakim Allah and Several others! Still ain't pausing yet!

He once wrote a lyric that stated I got 99 problems but a Bitch ain't one!

What the hell are you scared of? This is the dude that wrote the classic Jigga My Nigga! If that didn't make you throw his records away what the hell you scared of now?

He called himself Jay Hova! Like Jehovah! And you worrying if he's Satanic or not? !!!

Are you kidding me?

But Mista Jaycee he has influence over our kids? So! So does Ted Turner! So does Nickelodeon, so does Soljjah Boy, So does Beyonce, Oprah, Alicia Keys! But how much influence do you have?

Do your kids emulate you? Do you give them anything worthy of respect and emulation?

Why should they respect the Pastor? The Deacon? What's he done except tell them what they need to be doing or Stop doing? What's he done to influence they life except tell you that they are doing something wrong and YOU need to stop them?

Use your common sense! Jay-Z is a marketer, a salesman! He wants to make money! He's been quite successful at it too!

Again, I won't spend time defending Freemasonry. They don't need me to do that! Their works in the community speaks for itself. I have several friends in the lodges and they heads ain't spinning 360. But just for example some of your cousins and uncles and Parents are members. Are they Satanic? Are they receiving so many privileges? Is they life easier cause they are an Elk, Kappa, Que, or Mason? How bout Delta, AKA, Zeta or Eastern Star? Lives going any better? Lives any worse?

No, your dues paying Uncle ain't doing no better than you and he's a mason. Use good Sense!

Jay-Z album can tank just like everyone Else's and eventually it will.

Spend time on subjects more worthy of your time and intellect!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!
Jaycee

New Poetry!

So you woke up staring into the face of a NEW YEAR again/Found that Ole year Lover still kicking up DRAMA friend ?/But life like earth is cyclical/remember that it's all in the spin!

Breathe and Flow

Clean out your closet/Only way to make room for New Joy

is to

Let some ole thangs GO!

Breathe...

Flow....

Now is the time to have faith/lay down foundation

so you can step out on it! /Plant Seeds

So new plants bloom and sire trees

Have Faith! Have Faith! Have Faith!

Happy New Year!

BE Prayerful! BE Mindful! BE Careful!

Jaycee

Happy New Year! Welcome 2010!

Love, Joy, Peace, Happiness, Understanding to all! May you have a prosperous year!