29 August 2010

WE'LL MISS YOU, DELL

Dag, man I'm shocked!




Don't know what to say



I wasn't prepared for the news



Didn't expect to read that today



Dell, it's been awhile



Since we last got together



Man always thought we'd



Squeeze another one in



Just one more concert,



BBQ or chill spot



The life of the party



My man Dell rocked!



One more thing



Before I end this scribe



Do the wave up in Heaven



Send your friends back a smile



Gone, but never forgotten



A true friend indeed



Full of laughter and fun



Rest in Peace



Odell Shogunn.







Sunset 8/28/2010

27 August 2010

The Spot

So tonight, I just happened to stumble across another artist's Blog Talk Radio show.  We support eachother's efforts via other sites and shows where we have crossed paths in the past.  I think she's a great person.  Her name is PARADYME.  Her show is called THE SPOT.  She is a very talented writer and a beautiful person from the inside out.
Tonight the show was about the education system, change for the future, and what we, as artists are going to do.  Her special guest was CATALINA BYRD of BALTIMORE.  Mannie the Poet buzzed in and Double G supported.  There were other artists there, of course, but here are the key players in the ring... or on the line.  We discussed what's going on now, the trends that have been, the Muslim Community Center near Ground Zero, etc.
Greatest Poet Alive, also known as GPA, stopped through on his personal challenge to do 30 days of poetry straight.  This was his 6th day.  I think I can speak on everyone's behalf when I say that we were blessed to have been a part of that!!! It was definitely a great honor!  GPA, if you read this, get back at me when you complete the mission!! Lol  I want to hear all about your journeys throughout this 30 days!  It would be a great conversation topic!! I'd be honored to write about THAT!!!
Back to the nation's issues at hand, our nation is divided, the people with the biggest mouths are the ones who are sitting ducks in this whole ordeal, and the rest of us need to ban together to put the unity back into the commUNITY.  Here's a poem that I read tonight, and I dedicate it to th enation as a whole... not to any specific demographic.

HOW DARE YOU, AMERICA!

HOW DARE YOU TAKE AWAY SOMEONE ELSE'S RIGHTS!
JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN'T ACCEPT A LOSING FIGHT
NOT ALL MUSLIMS HAVE ATTACKED OUR TOWERS
YOU REALLY THINK YOU DESERVE THAT MUCH POWER?
YOU BLAME OBAMA FOR ALL THAT HAS GONE WRONG
TO UNDO PAST PRESIDENTIAL MISTAKES,
YOU'D NEVER BE THAT STRONG
HALF OF THIS COUNTRY CAN'T EVEN GET TO WORK ON TIME
BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT TOO LATE DRINKING, A DUI CRIME
THE OTHER HALF WOULDN'T GET OUT OF BED, UNLESS FOR A DRUG
AND THIS IS THE MESS THAT YOU CHOOSE TO SWEEP UNDER A RUG?
YOU'RE NOT INFALLIBLE, THIS IS THE TEST THAT PROVES IT
YOU'D RATHER LAY DOWN AND DIE, BEFORE CONSIDERING
WALKING IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES
YOUR IGNORANCE IS SICK, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT YOURSELF
STUDY YOUR HISTORY AND NURSE YOUR MENTAL BACK TO HEALTH
PUBLIC LAW 103 CLAIMS TO GIVE HAWAII BACK ITS LAND
AND CONGRESS STILL REFUSES THE AKAKA BILL AT HAND
I'M SO TIRED OF HEARING HOW PEOPLE SHOULD GO BACK WHERE THEY'RE FROM
THEN IN MY OPINION, SO SHOULD THE EUROPEAN MARCHING DRUM!
NOT ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN ANY RACE ARE BAD
BUT SO SEE MY NATION IN CONFLICT MAKES ME FEEL SAD.
I FORBID MY CHILDREN TO FIGHT FOR THIS PLACE
I'M EMBARASSED TO CALL AMERICA, MY RACE
QUIT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE MEXICANS TAKING YOUR JOBS
GET YOU ASS OFF THE COUCH AND GO TO WORK, YOU SLOB!
CRYING ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE CHINESE RATE OF SUCCESS
THEN GO WORK SEVEN DAYS, STOP THE BOO HOO'ING MESS!
AMERICA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM IS POORER THAN THE HOOD
WHAT, DO YOU THINK A COMPUTER ON A DESK MAKES IT GOOD?
IN JUST THE SAME FASHION THAT NOBODY CARED ABOUT
THE HOUSES BUILT UPON NATIVE GRAVES,
THE SAME WAY AMERICA SAYS TO FORGET BLACKS WERE ENSLAVED,
IS THE SAME WAY AMERICANS NEED TO GET OVER THIS MUSLIM OUTRAGE!
NOT EVERY MUSLIM IS A TERRORISTIC THREAT,
YOU'RE MORE OF A THREAT TO YOURSELF, I'LL BET
QUIT DRINKING ALL NIGHT, POPPING OXY'S AND SLEEPING ALL DAY
GET A REAL EDUCATION, STOP FACEBOOKING AT WORK, AND YOU TOO
COULD HAVE SOMETHING INTELLIGENT TO SAY.
SO BEFORE YOU DENY SOMEONE ELSE'S RIGHTS TO A WORSHIP PLACE
GET UP AND BE RESPONSIBLE, GET A JOB WORTH MORE THAN SAVING YOUR FACE.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BUILDING OF THE MOSQUE, NEAR THE SCENE
DON'T YOU DARE DENY AMERICAN MUSLIMS THE AMERICAN DREAM!


We have some strong works that are known in many areas.  If you can point out any positive organizations, are affiliated with any, can post something of sustainance, please feel free to do so!! No negative vibes here, please. 

Thank you for stoppin bye!

26 August 2010

MMS LIFE BALANCE SOLUTIONS

FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT DO NOT KNOW ME, I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF THREE.  I SPEND MOST OF MY DAY PLAYING MOM TAXI AND HOMEWORK HELPER. BEING A MOTHER WHO IS THERE FOR MY CHILDREN MAKES ME PROUD, HOWEVER IT ALSO PREVENTS ME FROM DOING OTHER THINGS THAT I NEED TO DO SUCH AS PROVIDE FOR THEM. SO...

TO OVERCOME THAT, I HAVE OPENED MY OWN BUSINESS THAT IS TRYING TO BECOME AN OFFICIAL LLC.  I LIKE TO CALL THIS COMPANY,
MMS LIFE BALANCE SOLUTIONS.

WHAT I DO AT MMS, IS HANDLE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN'T.  WHETHER IT BE TO WALK A DOG OR FIX YOUR PLUMBING, FROM HOUSEKEEPING & CHILDCARE TO LAWNCARE OR RECORDS MANAGEMENT.  I CAN ALSO TAKE CARE OF YOUR TAXES AND HANDLE YOUR FILING, IF THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED.  YOU'RE ASKING ME HOW I CAN PROVIDE SUCH A MYRIAD OF SERVICES?  EASY AS PIE.  I HAVE MY OWN TEAM.  YOU CALL ME AND I HANDLE THE REST.

MMS LIFE BALANCE SOLUTIONS
941-343-3747

YOU KNOW, THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN JUST BARELY MAKING IT BY, AND THIS ONE ENDEAVOR DOESN'T ALWAYS CUT THE BILLS.  SO I HAD TO COME UP WITH A BACKUP PLAN.  LISTED BELOW, ARE ALL OF THE SIDE EFFORTS THAT I TRY TO DO TO HELP GET MY CHILDREN BY WITHOUT THEM MISSING A BEAT.  WITH ONE IN BAND, TWO IN BOYSCOUTS, AND TWO ALSO IN PERFORMING ARTS, THEIR BILLS CAN BE QUITE EXPENSIVE FOR ME TO KEEP UP WITH. 

GUIDED BY GOD VITAMIN COMPANY, KNOWN AS "HEALTHY GBG"
www.shopgbg.com/jennica001

THESE ARE NOT A RELIGIOUS VITAMIN HOWEVER, THE FOUNDER OF THIS COMPANY CALLS HIS COMPANY GBG, BECAUSE HE FELT THAT THIS COMPANY WAS HIS CALLING.
THE VITAMIN ITSELF IS CALLED "10 IN ONE"   THE 10 IN ONE VITAMIN COVERS UPTO 1000% OF YOUR DAILY NUTRITIONAL NEEDS OF VITAMINS AND MINERALS AND TASTES LIKE ORANGE JUICE.   IT IS A MONTHLY AUTOSHIP PRODUCT, SO THAT YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REPLENISHED, JUST AS YOU ARE RUNNING OUT.  YOU NEED ONLY TAKE 1 OUNCE PER DAY.

MY TESTIMONY ON THIS?   I LOVE THE TASTE, AND IT GIVES ME TONS OF ENERGY.  SOME OF MY ACHES AND PAINS HAVE MINIMIZED, BUT MOST OF ALL, SINCE MY BODY IS LITERALLY NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED, I NO LONGER GO THROUGH BOUTS WITH MUSCLE CRAMPS (BETTER KNOWN AS CHARLIE HORSES) AND HEARTBURN.
BECAUSE WAS PRETTY HEALTHY TO BEGIN WITH, I CANNOT CLAIM ANY SPECIAL MIRACLES THAT SOUND TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE.. LOL
THE COMPANY ALSO GIVES YOU YOUR OWN URL WITH THE COMPANY, IN CASE YOU DECIDE TO RECOMMEND THE VITAMIN TO SOMEONE ELSE.  WHEN YOU DO, HAVE THEM BUY IT FROM YOUR URL, AND YOU GET A STIPEND FOR THE RECOMMENDATION, AND A PERCENTAGE OF THE SALE.  IT DOES TRICKLE DOWN AND THE PERCENTAGE STILL TRICKLES BACK UP TO YOU.  YES, YOU COULD DECIDE TO WORK THIS AS A NETWORK MARKETING JOB, BUT THE POINT IS THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO, AND THERE ARE NO FEES FOR THE URL, WEBSITE OR MAINTENANCE.  IT IS SIMPLY AN OFFER THAT YOU CAN DO WHAT YOU WANT WITH IT.


MY INK SUPER STORE
http://kahalalei.inksuperstores.com/

THIS IS MY INK SHOP.  IT HAS INK FOR ALMOST ANY TYPE OF PRINTER OUT ON THE MARKET.  I ALSO HAVE ECOFRIENDLY INK.  IT IS CHEAP AND AFFORDABLE, YOU CAN CONTROL WHAT YOU ARE ORDERING AND KNOW THAT IT WILL BE THERE IN A TIMELY FASHION.
THIS IS ANOTHER COMPANY WHERE YOU CAN UTILIZE IT TO MAKE A FEW EXTRA BUCKS.  THE COST FOR THE SITE IS FREE, AND USING MY NAME AS YOUR REFERRING AGENT, WILL GET YOU AN AUTOMATIC $10 SIGN ON BONUS, AS I HAVE BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL WITH IT.  WHERE IT ASKS YOU ABOUT THE REFERRING AGENT, SIMPLY PLUG IN "KAHALALEI".  YOUR $10 WILL GO DIRECTLY INTO YOUR ACCOUNT.


AVON
www.youravon.com/jchrupalyl

NEED I SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THIS ONE?  WHO DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT AVON?
EXCEPT TO SAY THAT I SELL ONLINE, AND RIGHT NOW, WHILE I AM NEW, ALL ORDERS THAT ARE PROCESSED ON MY PERSONAL PAGE ARE FREE SHIPPING, IF YOU TYPE IN

THE COUPON CODE:  FIRSTREP

THIS WILL ENSURE FREE SHIPPING, NO MATTER HOW LARGE OR SMALL YOUR ORDER IS.  IT IS A LIMITED TIME OFFER, AS I WILL ONLY BE A NEW REP FOR BUT SO LONG!

WELL, THAT'S ALL FOR NOW! I HOPE TO SEE YOU SOMEWHERE ON THIS WEB SOON!!

Smile

Smile
In the face of pain, smile
As you walk through the rain
Give up the struggle
Just enjoy your life
No matter how hard
Forget about the strife
Love is worth your all
Love without a name
People can hurt you deeply
But your love is what remains
So when you feel like
You've been pushed right out the door
Remember that you must smile
Because you've been through this before
Of course there's going to be
Days with ups and days with downs
But smile through it all
You are worth your crown.


Kahala Lei
Blood Money Poets
copyright 2010

Kahala Lei

Kahala Lei


Delicate Flower

Of heavenly love

Writing poetry

Divine shall be her legacy

With blessings from above

Intricate are her thoughts

The inner soul she etches

Skilled experiences from sketches

From a life she has once known

And of the seeds she has sown

Torn from childhood

Her dreams deferred

Survival was her life

New beginnings she has spurred

Once just known as Kahala, yet

Now known as Kahala Lei

Put the heavenly piece

Into what her name says

Bringing a new meaning

To her name

A heavenly spirit

Delicate blossoms of a fresh dawn

Lyrically driven to make a point

From what life has spawned

Passionately writing

About all she has seen

Meticulately creating a

Novel of reality and dreams

Knowing that this time

Her heart is too strong

To allow anyone to pull her down

She has waited too long

She will not be put on the ground

Pushing past withering

Her flower rose to the sunlight

Towering over the stalks of weeds

That tried her blossoming might

Beautiful is the foundation

Of this delicate flower's soul

She will sow the seeds of compassion

Lead her life with empathy

Never forget her roots

Because that's why

She is she.





Kahala Lei

Blood Money Poets

copyright ©2010

25 August 2010

Parenting 101

So you have this new little person who depends on you.  All of the things that mom used to say to you about being able to understand one day come to mind.  For days on end, all you hear is, "One day you'll understand. That's the day that you're going to apologize to me for all that you put me through!"
Deep down inside, you hope it isn't so.  Half of us wish that we never see half of the problems that our parents went through!

Well, I've got good news and bad news.  The good news is that with all of the "awareness classes" and "parenting classes" that are available these days, will assure that you don't go through half of that crap.
The bad news is that after these classes, you may feel refreshed for a few days, thinking, "Okay, I think I can handle. This is easy!"  Then comes the actual application of all those cute little techniques they taught you.
Do you hear the doomed music playing in the backround?  After a few nights, I started to think to myself about the new forms of abuse that have been invented throughout the years.  Did you know that tickling your child too much is a form of abuse? Yep.. apparantly, so is anything that makes the child pout.  Be careful when telling your child no in public.  No matter how much they're getting on your last nerve, be sure to say it firmly with a loving smile!

The problems that our generation will face as parents will be very different than that of our parents generation.  Now depending on where you love, the teachers will lay down the ground rules of your house for you.  If you live in Florida, this is especially true.  My children come home every day and tell me of new house rules, like they aren't allowed to do chores because their teachers said that their only concerns in life should be homework and play.  Really?  Watch out fo rthese little nuances. After several trips to the school every year, the teachers get the point, but by then, I have to reprogram the kids as well. Aahh.... the joys of parenthood!

Now, I tested these little tricks to see which were the most effective, and within legal boundaries.  When the baby is old enough to get around, constantly tell them, "If its not yours, don't touch it."  This is invaluable when they get older, if not immediately.  You want to mold their little minds, instead of calling little Johnny a bad boy, you want to say things like, " Bad boys do that.  Johnny, you're not bad, you're mommy's good boy!"   This will alleviate alot of negative behaviors also.

I really don't care what they say about your child should be able to read a book by the age of two.  This is ridiculous.  From birth until walking, I taught the kids love and basic life functions, like eating, hugging, etc.  I also would begin sitting them on the potty as soon as they were sitting on their own.  I did this every time I went potty.  For the most part, my kids potty trained themselves by the age of 18 months.  I also let them drink water from a soft top sippy cup, from the time they could hold their own bottle.  This was like a play item for them, until they grasped the idea.  I never had to train a child on cups and potties.  They naturally picked up on this from the day to day exercises.  Now as far as reading, I read to them everyday, but put more focus on the moral of the story.  This gave them a moral foundation.  I waited until three to really push the reading.  Of course, you point things out to them, but don't you want a child who can act accordingly?  There's no sense in having a child who can read, but is misbehaved and academically burnt out by kindergarden!

I will revisit this topic again, getting more in depth on some thoughts and practices.  As for now, i will call this a blog post and get some rest for the night.  I hope you enjoy all that you read!

18 August 2010

HOW DARE YOU, AMERICA

HOW DARE YOU TAKE AWAY SOMEONE ELSE'S RIGHTS!



JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN'T ACCEPT A LOSING FIGHT



NOT ALL MUSLIMS HAVE ATTACKED OUR TOWERS



YOU REALLY THINK YOU DESERVE THAT MUCH POWER?



YOU BLAME OBAMA FOR ALL THAT HAS GONE WRONG



TO UNDO PAST PRESIDENTIAL MISTAKES,



YOU'D NEVER BE THAT STRONG



HALF OF THIS COUNTRY CAN'T EVEN GET TO WORK ON TIME



BECAUSE THEY WERE OUT TOO LATE DRINKING, A DUI CRIME



THE OTHER HALF WOULDN'T GET OUT OF BED, UNLESS FOR A DRUG



AND THIS IS THE MESS THAT YOU CHOOSE TO SWEEP UNDER A RUG?



YOU'RE NOT INFALLIBLE, THIS IS THE TEST THAT PROVES IT



YOU'D RATHER LAY DOWN AND DIE, BEFORE CONSIDERING



WALKING IN SOMEONE ELSE'S SHOES



YOUR IGNORANCE IS SICK, YOU NEED TO LOOK AT YOURSELF



STUDY YOUR HISTORY AND NURSE YOUR MENTAL BACK TO HEALTH



PUBLIC LAW 103 CLAIMS TO GIVE HAWAII BACK ITS LAND



AND CONGRESS STILL REFUSES THE AKAKA BILL AT HAND



I'M SO TIRED OF HEARING HOW PEOPLE SHOUD GO BACK WHERE THEY'RE FROM



THEN IN MY OPINION, SO SHOULD THE EUROPEAN MARCHING DRUM!



NOT ALL OF THE PEOPLE IN ANY RACE ARE BAD



BUT SO SEE MY NATION IN CONFLICT MAKES ME FEEL SAD.



I FORBID MY CHILDREN TO FIGHT FOR THIS PLACE



I'M EMBARASSED TO CALL AMERICA, MY RACE



QUIT COMPLAINING ABOUT THE MEXICANS TAKING YOUR JOBS



GET YOU ASS OFF THE COUCH AND GO TO WORK, YOU SLOB!



CRYING ALL THE TIME ABOUT THE CHINESE RATE OF SUCCESS



THEN GO WORK SEVEN DAYS, STOP THE BOO HOO'ING MESS!



AMERICA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM IS POORER THAN THE HOOD



WHAT, DO YOU THINK A COMPUTER ON A DESK MAKES IT GOOD?



IN JUST THE SAME FASHION THAT NOBODY CARED ABOUT



THE HOUSES BUILT UPON NATIVE GRAVES,



THE SAME WAY AMERICA SAYS TO FORGET BLACKS WERE ENSLAVED,



IS THE SAME WAY AMERICANS NEED TO GET OVER THIS MUSLIM OUTRAGE!



NOT EVERY MUSLIM IS A TERRORISTIC THREAT,



YOU'RE MORE OF A THREAT TO YOURSELF, I'LL BET



QUIT DRINKING ALL NIGHT, POPPING OXY'S AND SLEEPING ALL DAY



GET A REAL EDUCATION, STOP FACEBOOKING AT WORK, AND YOU TOO



COULD HAVE SOMETHING INTELLIGENT TO SAY.



SO BEFORE YOU DENY SOMEONE ELSE'S RIGHTS TO A WORSHIP PLACE



GET UP AND BE RESPONSIBLE, GET A JOB WORTH MORE THAN SAVING YOUR FACE.



THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BUILDING OF THE MOSQUE, NEAR THE SCENE



DON'T YOU DARE DENY AMERICAN MUSLIMS THE AMERICAN DREAM!

15 August 2010

Help Me Get Home

Well as an escape from domestic violence, my dad played the hero role in his F150 and brought myself and kids to Florida to start a new life.  Shortly there after, he didn't want to be here anymore and has gone back home, to Pennsylvania.  The general advice everyone gave me, was to stay here and give this place a chance, on my own.  Well, I can't make a living here.  Just as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz found out, so did I:  THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME. 

I have been depressed since I've been here, convincing myself that it was because of the situation, not where I am.  But the truth is, that as of September 3rd, I have officially been here for 3 years.  I think I gave this place a fair chance.  So far, 98% of the people that I thought I made friends with, were NOT friends.
I have no personal connection with a soul.  Jobs are either scarce, or when you find one.... well let's not talk about that and say we did.

At this point, I'd sacrifice  my leg, to go home. (Well I might need it to drive, but just saying...)
I am struggling just like everyone else, but alone with my kids.  I have found numerous jobs back home, in Pennsylvania, however I lack transportation and destination. 

I'm not asking for a hand out from anyone.  Lord knows that we all need to hold onto what we have.
But I am asking for you to check out either of my sites and purchase a product.  I promise you that these are things that you need on a daily basis.

www.shopgbg.com/jennica001 This is the most wonderful and wholesome vitamin I have ever taken, hence the fact that I am actually selling it as well. Anyone who knows me, knows that I don't sell things that can't sell themselves.  Not even in a retail store.  If I don't personally believe in the product that I am selling, I will not sell it. Check out the stats on this liquid multivitamin that contains a full day's dosage of what your body needs to function properly.  the site will explain further into detail.  The vitamin tastes like no pulp orange juice.

http://www.kahalalei.inksuperstores.com/  This is your basic printer ink shop.  I think it covers about 97% of inks compatible with your system.  Eco friendly as well

Both sites are free businesses to start.  All you have to do is tell people about it.

Thank you for your support!

12 August 2010

Vent of the day

Boy, at times I really feel negative about myself.  After almost a year, I still cannot afford a house for my family, and I know this family that I stay with is getting tired of us.  I have gone and looked, with no return calls.  Jobs are plentiful, but only for select individuals.  After companies get burned but so many times, I can understand.  At the same time, it's really hard to locate substantial employment. 

I have tried repeatedly to self evaluate, self recreate, rehabilitate, rejuviate, have gone to counselors and doctors to see if I am missing something upstairs.  I'm supposed to be normal.. so they say.  I have a long lost of achievements, no recommendations from past employers, and they tell me that there's no reason to fall out of contact with people of your past, if the relationship was good.  Well people move on, get new numbers, etc.. everyday.  If I had the money to sit at home, I wouldn't waste my time looking for a job.

Meanwhile, I am such a huge burden on the people that I stay with, but their faith won't allow them to see us on the streets.

This is not the first cycle that I have had to break, but there are so many of them that I cannot break them all at once.  I have overcome 30 years of abuse, raised more kids than I could count, including three of my own, broke the cycle of self destructive paths that I had learned from my family, as it was the only behavior that I ever did see.  Unlike 98% of my family, I did not choose a life of drugs and alcohol.  For a period of 6 years, I had broken the cycle of poverty and had started to go to college.  While breaking the cycle of abuse, I managed to fall into an impoverished trap that I am struggling so hard to get out of.

I don't even feel sorry for myself.  I just don't know what else to do.  I am searching for an open door.  Searching, searching, searching....

General Timeline covering 1977-1991

  • Born in Philadelphia on September 3, 1977
  • By the age of 3 was performing in various dance shows and parades, making parents proud to have a little girl, so beautiful and talented.
  • By the age of 5, had already been through 2 house fires and witnessing domestic violence in the extreme.  Began taking care of brothers and myself to help out.
  • Still dancing and now playing soccer as well.
  • Upward to the age of 6, the fighting and abuses became public and it didn't look like the sun would ever shine over our skies again.
  • Collected the street numbers with Pop-pop on a daily basis.  Parents sold the store, but I still worked every day.
  • Moved in with grandparents, across the street and began to spend more time away from home, staying with various family members.
  • Mom forced me to tell Dad that I hated him, which was the end of Daddy's little girl.  Things would never be the same.
  • Dad moved back to North Philadelphia and began to use drugs heavily. Even though the boys were allowed to see him, I wasn't able to spend time with Dad for another few years.
  • Dance and soccer were no longer a part of my life, but I still carried on with my training routines for future purposes.  I wasn't going to let anything stop me from being a rich superstar.  Once I was rich, I could come back home to Jewtown and fix everything that my people could never afford or have; like the playgrounds or a leaky roof.  I would  open a business that would create jobs, because everyone here was poor and losing their jobs, as companies were moving south for cheaper labor.  None of our parent had an education, as their families were too poor and everyone had to work.  Times were hard all the time in Jewtown.
  • 1985: parents were supposed to be working things out, but Mom had boyfriends in and out of the house. Women used to come looking to beat Mom up. Dad found out and beat Mom badly.  Mom's parents had set it up, to teach her a lesson.  When Dad got out of control, they had him locked up as we watched.
  • Mom was on all kinds of drugs, partying, and sleeping with her sister's boyfriend to pay the rent.  She began to get more abusive with us daily, especially me.
  • I was 8 years old when she beat me so badly, I wandered my way through the hood, trying to find my father's house.  When I did, he was so bad on drugs that he sent me back home.
  • 1986: By the time I was 9 years old, she had put my older brother and I out, taking only him back.  Again, I went to my father, and was sent back home.  This was the point where I realized I was on my own.  I took all that I needed to get by, went to a playground near Dad's house to make a plan, hitting up the corner store where he got credit, to eat.  I sat in the playground until I devised enough planning to get me through the remainder of the school year. I would call my aunt at the end of the school year to arrange to spend the summer visiting.  Being homeless was a shame, so I would vow not to tell anyone of my situation.  I stayed at friends' houses every weekend, and stay where I could on school nights.  Sometimes I would go back to my Mom, but that usually resulted in a severe beating.
  • By this point, nobody was taking care of me, so my brother went out and got criminally creative to provide for me.  After having seen him in the back of a police cruiser several times, I decided not to go to him over my problems.  The last thing my baby brother needed, was to be left alone with my mother, unprotected.
  • I began to frequent my father's house, stealing small amounts of drugs to sell.  Looking at my options, it was either that or sell me.  There was no way I was going to commit a sin.  I didn't know that selling drugs was bad, because I had seen it all my life.  I knew the game well.  The money I saved between work and sales would get me a boarding room.
  • I put myself back in soccer, having gotten my father to sign the papers.  I told him that my frined's parents would pay and provide transportation, but Mom wouldn't sign the papers.  He signed the papers.  I hustled the money to pay for my gear and dues.  Nobody ever came to the games, practices or anything.  I used to watch the other parents shout and cheer for their kids, but this would ignite the fire of determination and perseverence within me.  For three years we went to the championships and never a cheer for me.  I knew there would be a better day... someday.
  • It was during this time that I started to get close to my first stepfather, despite not having lived at home.  He had four kids of his own, but always made a few extra dollars to spare me to live.
  • David trained me to become the first female boxer.  He eventually convinced my mother to let me come back home. This wouldn't last very long.  It was a good thing, becasue my best friend's parents were beginning to question me about my parents, so it was good that they finally got to meet one.  My mother was pretty sly at pretending to be the model mom, making my best friend and her family question me about the things I had confided in them.  One day, my mother forgot that Milly was sleeping over.  she came home in the middle of the night drunk and beat me with a mop stick.  Milly came out of the bathroom horrified and immediately called her parents to come get us.  This would be a positive turning point in my life.
  • I stayed at Milly's almost all the time however my relationship with her mother began to come between us.  That was one thing Milly couldn't share.
  • We soon graduated 8th grade and her parents took us on a Disney vacation for 2 weeks.  It was among the greatest times in my childhood.