Thoughts I'd Like To Share...

This has been a truly wonderful weekend! Vacations are supposed to make you feel renewed and refreshed and this one did.  The Essence Festival is all about empowerment and this one certainly was.  At the very awesome concert last night they announced that this year was huge for them, maybe the biggest in 19 years.  I enjoyed taking in all the sights and sounds and smells.  I enjoyed immersing myself in the culture. This year we determined that we were going to focus on making all the concerts and we did.  I am happy for this decision because they were all awesome.  Whatever your opinion of Beyonce is, she is fantastic in concert. She actually shut the Superdome down last night. While we are going back to reality today, I will cherish these memories for a lifetime.  Live your life as if there is no tomorrow because tomorrow is not promised.  I have to mention my friend again because he is always on my mind and especially today, what would have ...

Friday morning started with a nice, leisurely and totally free breakfast at the hotel.  The weather was not favorable for spending much time outside until this afternoon so it was the perfect opportunity to spend the day exploring the exhibits.  Fortunately, there was quite a bit going on inside the convention center at the Essence Empowerment Experience.  For example, MSNBC is broadcasting many of their shows directly from the convention center.  It was enjoyable seeing people like Al Sharpton, Alex Wagner and Chris Matthews up close.  There was an opportunity to take pictures with them and get books signed but honestly, I just didn’t have the patience. It seemed as though every large exhibit had a disc jockey spinning tunes.  This led to a great deal of noise and it also made me think about my friend… the late, great, DJ Saxwell.  I had the opportunity to dance and attempt to learn a new line dance.  Not much luck with the latter…  They w...

Today started out very early in Orlando and ended very late in New Orleans.  We got to the airport on time for a change. No “mad dash” through the airport. No sprained ankles running to catch a plane that is about to leave without us (long story, maybe I’ll explain at some point).  It was a laid back kind of day.  I’m certain tomorrow will be different.  We spent today getting settled in and getting prepared for the mass influx of humanity that is sure to follow on Friday. I’m going to hit the sack now and rest for this non-stop weekend that’s about to start.  I watched the fireworks display from my hotel room.  I ate a “tv dinner” from the hotel store.  Tomorrow we will get seafood and we will consume large amounts of alcohol.  What the hell, we don’t have to drive anywhere… Tomorrow I will post more pictures of my amazing weekend! Fireworks display through the window... The bar is open

I thought I would work on this dedication while the pain is still so fresh and new.   I cannot believe you are actually gone.   I will miss you every day for the rest of my life; that is why I am dedicating this book to you.   Where do I begin Sax?   You made everyone you came in contact with feel special.   You were an amazing man.   I’m sitting here trying to define our relationship but I don’t know that I can.   I mean certainly we were fond of one another but it was strictly platonic, right?   Hmmmm?   I know for certain my biological brother never smacked me on the ass…but I digress. I was introduced to you through mutual friends at a party where you were working.   I had been invited to attend Monday Night Martini events but somehow, I never really made it until one week I finally did.   I think that may have been back in 2010, or 2011, I don’t know?   What I do know is that my life has never been the same s...

So I was talking with my wonderful, generous, intelligent son a few months ago and he proclaims to me, “Mom, I want to help poor children who don’t have enough money…”   Of course I was thrilled to hear this!   My son is an excellent artist so in the midst of figuring out how we can raise this money, he says again, “I can sell my pictures and donate some of the money.”   Now how do you tell this very enthusiastic child that people may not want to buy his pictures….?   But earlier this morning, while I was not sleeping, I came up with the idea of how we could do this…   We are going to sell t-shirts!   Not just ordinary t-shirts though!   These will be shirts with original artwork by one Willie James Cooper, III.   They are intellectual property and will be appropriately copyrighted so that they cannot be stolen! We will donate 25% to multiple organizations that assist children and families who are on the autism spectrum. We will donate 25% to...

Recently, I have been looking at several opportunities to help supplement my income.   Many of them are cost prohibitive.   After all, you really don’t want to invest a lot of time, energy and money into something that has no chance of succeeding, right? However, given the right timing and effort, you can make the difference in whether what you are pursuing will or will not yield the desired results.   Life in general is a gamble but trying and failing is much more productive than doing nothing.   I want all of you reading this blog to take a serious look at the most recent opportunity to which I have been introduced.   In my opinion, it blows just about everything else out there completely out of the water! So here is my proposition for you.   I am going to provide a link for you to check out the company, kick the tires, give it a thorough going over.   I need you to really evaluate this opportunity and give me your honest opinion.   I need ...

One of our most beloved family members passed away a few weeks ago…   I would say that she lived a long and wonderful life – a life well lived.   I was gratified to see the attendance at her wake and funeral.   I’m not sure she was aware, towards the end of her life, how many lives she had touched in her lifetime.   I know she had a profound effect on my life.   Although I will miss her earthly presence, I feel she is in a better place where she is free from pain and discomfort. What then is the take away from all this?   Live your life to the fullest.   Spend time with your loved ones.   Whenever possible, do good deeds for no reason at all expecting nothing in return.   Work hard and play even harder.   Find something to stand for or you will fall for anything.   Leave a lasting legacy.   And remember, the definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing and expecting to get a different result.   Are you re...