My Heart ~

You guys all know by now that while I was born and raised on Chicago's South Side, I am a New Orleanian at heart. My family's lineage is from there. My soul mate, our family's late patriarch, my beautiful, graceful maternal grandmother was born there. It was her love and so it became mine. My great-grandfather spoke creole/french and was raised there, as was his wife, my great-grandmother. Their coming to Chicago was only after my great-grandfather's years of working as a cook on the railway. They came for the North's promise of a better life. The Amtrak "City of New Orleans" runs straight from Chicago to New Orleans each and every day. Sometimes I think my heart is still on that train, running back and forth.

New Orleans is what I think of every morning. As I drink my coffee with chicory, I literally envision Cafe Du Monde and Jackson Square ~ and so, today my heart is breaking, right alongside everyone elses and those who are packing up and moving out as we await Gustav.

Gustav, please be gentle with my heart...

NOLA

Gustav is heading for my beloved New Orleans ~

Just as things were returning to normalcy, sort of. As the Katrina Memorials were underway, FEMA was working with several local governments and the evacuations were being planned. As I write this, the multi-state evacuations are systematically going into effect. Some today and some tomorrow. St. Bernard Parish and Plaquemines are under a mandatory evacuation with residents having to be out by 4pm today.

If you feel moved, please donate to the American Red Cross located on the side-bar just below. the funds go directly to the American Red Cross through a safe and secure, encrypted page.

At this juncture, we don't know who is going to need it, but as Gustav gains strength and momentum, we do know that there is a community that is going to be hit, and hit VERY hard. Gustav is now a Category 3 with winds sustained at 115 miles per hour.

Cousin Mario and Amani of MyUrbanReport have headed to the Gulf to provide footage and support. Stay tuned and keep the prayers flowing!

Senator Obama's Historic Acceptance Speech!

What was my favorite line of Senator Obama's democratic nomination acceptance speech?

"Eight Is Enough" !!

Get involved and have your say ~

Hillary-Blogher-PUNDITMOM-CSPAN-GOGIRLS!!!-Women's Suffrage-Feminism-Tonight-Tears AND

that's all I have to say about that~

Obama/Biden 08

Remembering Katrina

halmapr.com

Late on August 24, 2005, Tropical Depression Katrina began to quickly gain momentum and power. On August 25, 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit U.S. soil crossing over South Florida as a Category 1. As it passed over Florida, it churned with a force that had not been seen in 100 years, developing into a Category 5 storm before weakening to a Category 4 and the surge that devastatingly destroyed the Gulf Coast August 28-29th, 2005.

Remembering Katrina, The Gulf and NOLA in our prayers...

U.S.A

BEIJING (AFP)


Redemption.

The Redeem Team.

Never was I a fan of Kobe Bryant. But redemption has a way of cloaking the past. Forgiving, and taking back what has been done. Everyone deserves the chance for reconciliation. Everyone deserves that return to the path of light. Kobe's year is almost biblical. Shunned and spurned. His arrogance and selfishness played out in the media with tantrums and illicit affairs...very similar to what the U.S.A has been synonymous with as of late. Tawdry.

Kobe Bryant came back to be MVP.

Then there is this gold, this win that redeems men's basketball...and then there is something else.

The U.S.A has the same chance as Kobe and the Olymic U.S.A Men's basketball team.

We can find redemption in the eyes of the world. We can find redemption for ourselves ~ it is our time to come back to what we have previously been about. Generous ~ kind. Tough and on top of things. A return to the path of light.

My hope is that this is just the beginning.

Congratulations to The Redeem Team. Thank you for giving us back something...and it is more than just basketball. I am inspired. I believe. You guys have taught us about team. Faith. Redemption, drive and winning gold.

JUST IN CASE...

you are on the edge or are considering staying home, or if you feel you need a reason to vote Democratic, feeling unsure about Obama...just take a look at this:



I LOVE the END...Pssst DO Something! I know its propoganda, and probably out of context,and I REALLY don't like to post partisanship, but lately I have been feeling strongly about issues that mean something to me. Basic human right issues that some people feel they need to make for me. All women deserve the right to CHOOSE. If certain policies are not right for you ~ at least you can say "no". Dictating to others what they can and can not do, taking away programming, funding and opportunity because you were savy enough to succeed and someone else wasn't, is not what this country is about.

I know I had reservations previously...so why listen to me! Listen to me because my reservations were coming from my position as a feminist and a former campaign worker. I wanted a woman in the White House. That's not going to happen this time. And that's okay. Everything is as it should be, now I am picking up and moving on. Staying vocal, staying strong, and am now supporting the best candidate for President of the United States ~~ Will you JOIN ME?

We Have Lost A True Advocate

All during the primaries I remember thinking that U.S. Representative Tubbs Jones should be a more visible advocate in the next Democratic White House...in some esteemed office of highly public affairs. Her passion ran DEEP. Not knowing that much about her at the time, I could only reach my conclusion from her impassioned speeches. Her gesticulating spoke volumes. She was animated, direct and her policies vehemently supported her constituency.

In researching her, I would find that she graduated the elementary levels from Cleveland public schools. She was the first black prosecutor of her county, and the first black Municipal Court Judge. She was also a Delta.

As is evident by the outpouring of statements and coverage, she is going to be missed. Her impact on black life, the country as a whole and her contributions to women have forged such a strong foundation for us all to bridge upon. It is my hope and my prayer that she be remembered and that her torch be carried on.

A great confidant of mine recently stated after Isaac Hayes passed away, that things of these natures often come in threes. I brushed it off, sadly to say that statement was right.

Be encouraged to make a difference, there are so many shadows to fill.

LADIES & GENTLEMEN!

With the Democratic Convention less than a week away, I am still reading things of this nature: CLICK HERE

Are we serious?? Folks let's be clear. If we make the mistake of McCain in the White House, we are doing serious damage to Women's Rights! What are we thinking here, or better yet...are we thinking.

Seriously. With Obama in office, our voices will be heard. Our children will be safe and life will go on. McCain's presidency does not offer that assusrance and you guys know it!

War, and Women's Health will be on the agenda in a way that we will not recover from in our lifetime.

I hope that we can unify and get involved. I joined the Obama Campaign and am actively participating. This is a Democracy and I am SO convinced that we are all safe with Obama's Presidency.

SO, Ladies and Gentleman...MEET the Candidate. Sign up and voice your concerns, don't just blog about it. Don't just sit out on the sidelines pouting.

Join. Get involved. Have your say! YES we can!

Love In Green and White

WOW!! As the 3rd Anniversary of Katrina approaches, SHAKLEE's 2008 Global Conference can boast that their visit contributed 10 million dollars to the great city of New Orleans!!

700 Shaklee members worked on a devastated school which will now be available to open this school year!!!

In addition to that wonderful news, Shaklee gave 600 residents of New Orleans a "Business In A Box" that included Get Clean!

We received this news from our faithful and fun friend, and Shaklee Distributor, Patty Matlock.

She now knows what it is like to LOVE NEW ORLEANS. New Orleans is infectious. I liken it to hearing someone you love laugh deep and sure. It envelopes you and splinters your soul into a thousand pieces. Its rich history, scrumptious food, lovely, endearing people and its indescribable heat are just too many things!

I have raved and raved about Shaklee Products but seriously hope that each and every one of you try at least one product for your health and for the health of your families. Using environmentally friendly cleaning products and supplements should become a way of life for all of ours.

Having that new baby or beloved animal crawling on a floor with toxic residue from bleach or ammonia or some other deliberately destroying agent is like retracting your love and commitment. We spend all of our time loving and spending on our families and to knowingly consistently expose them to toxins is a death sentence that just does not have to be.

Our immune systems are compromised enough! So lets start with one Shaklee Product today!
Call Patty with any questions! I do, as well those in my office have. She is always there to encourage and decipher as we bungle and jumble our way through this maze of good and bad.

It is my prayer that NOLA will be able to enhance their lives and detoxify and enhance their health from those horrible housing trailers to undo the damage that was done to them by inhaling formaldehyde. You would be amazed at how common formaldehyde is in our everyday products. It is in our mattresses, our carpets, and even some cosmetics!

Lets commit today to change and do what is best for our bodies!

BUD BILLIKEN DAY!

Today's BUD BILLIKEN DAY PARADE is dedicated to our hometown comedian Bernie Mac 1957 - 2008 ~

The first Bud Billiken® Parade and Picnic was held August 11, 1929. It was the vision of Robert S. Abbott. Robert S. Abbott's parents were slaves, yet he went on to attend Kent College Of Law and founded the legendary Chicago Defender in 1905.

In 1929, Mr. Abbott decided the best way to show appreciation for the young distributors of his paper, many who were impoverished Chicago youth, was to hold a day...a parade where they could be celebrated and dress up and be revered!

87 years later it remains a staple, running down the same avenue, bringing joy to the same black faces on the second Saturday of August.




Bernie Mac, whom we lost today, was a familiar face at the parade. He was always a source of pride for us here in Chicago. What fun it was having a Hollywood premiere (Ocean's 13 Movie).

I spent many loud boisterous nights back in the late 80's hanging in front of the Cotton Club, watching the players come and go...never knowing where we would all end up, but really having fun, listening to all of the raw comedy. Bernie Mac will be missed.

NEWS FROM NOLA

This info is direct from our friends at Finding Our Folk ~


The 3rd Annual Katrina Anniversary
Actions and Demonstrations for Katrina Anniversary Right to the City will join New Orleans on August 29, 2008 for the third annual Katrina commemoration. New Orleans is still fighting for its right to return home and policing, through corruption, brutality, and being a poor agent of public safety is one of the largest obstacles to our return. New Orleans citizens are literally being harassed out of their homes by NOPD and we must confront hostile law enforcement in every public sphere we must confront to rebuild our lives and homes. For more information on stories.

The following are some stark examples:

* A local mentally ill man was recently killed by the police for refusing to give up his FEMA trailer. He had nowhere else to go.

* Parents visiting Recovery School District Public Schools are now forced to undergo a background check and can be arrested while looking after their children's education.

* New Orleans represents a national trend of the bulk of our city's resources being sucked out of community infrastructure and placed into policing.

On August 29th, all the RTTC regions will be doing direct actions demanding that our resources be returned to all the things that make our communities strong and safe: public education, housing, public health, and direct democracy.




Hot 8 Spotlight NEXT STOP AUGUST 10th ~ El Paso Texas!!!


Hot 8 Music Outreach Program





The outreach program is a continued success! The students are maturing as musicians and social change agents. As the summer session approaches an end "Big Al" (trumpet player) for the band says this is not the end for the outreach program. The Hot 8 Brass Band has made a commitment to make sure the culture of New Orleans Brass Band music will never die. This workshop is just one of the many chapters for the Hot 8 Brass Band. The students are now working on their very own song (the title of this song is still being voted on by the students.) Please stay posted for the title release and song!

Please visit the Finding Our Folk website www.findingourfolk.org for more information on updates, events, fundraisers or to DONATE INSTRUMENT'S!
*******************

Friends ~ As the 3rd Anniversary of Katrina approaches remember New Orleans in your prayers and if you can find a cause or contribute your time, your thoughts, or a bit of elbow grease on NOLA's behalf ~ We All Need Each Other!


~~ This sentiment is straight from the House!

GUYS AND GALS!

We've got a mission today. The Bush Administration is assaulting women's health on their way out of the door. AND while I vehemently support Senator Obama for the presidency, none of the candidates are concerned because they don't have a uterus.

Please support us in this effort by CONTACTING THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION THROUGH SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MIKE LEAVITT.

I am not a radical. I am not an extremist and my reproductive years are slowly crawling away. I am concerned for my nieces, my son, his friends...we are all entitled to make choices about our reproductive health and our right to choose.

DO NOT LET THESE OLD MEN TELL US WHAT TO DO WITH OUR BODIES! ENOUGH!

P.S.
Kudos to Cecile Richards. Ms. Richards has brought new light to Planned Parenthood and has done a wonderful job of keeping society informed as to the decisions Washington is trying to make for us.

Super Shooter!! Mario's latest flicks and pics

HEY, Cousin Mario AKA Supeshooter has some new video picked up by the Associated Press and CNN!!!

Check it out!

Green Today ~ Green Tomorrow

If you are anywhere near NOLA, Be sure to catch the annual conference for Shaklee that begins Tuesday, August 5, 2008. In addition to charitable outreaches, they are bringing green ideas and green entrepreneurial opportunities as NOLA rebuilds.

Held at The Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Two Poydras Street
New Orleans, LA 70140

SHAKLEE has scheduled fun and information that promises to change lives!


If you LIVE IN NOLA AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE FREE INVITE, CLICK HERE:

VIP FREE SHAKLEE INVITE!

You can also contact our friend Patty Matlock 732-221-3071 or visit her SHAKLEE SITE!!

Check out these great videos as well if you have time. I LOVE Shaklee. I have not had a blemish or a cold. I have not had an itch or rash. All my ailments have gone since I began using their humane, chemical free products. Basic H2, the laundry detergent, and the deodorant are the items I would have to put in my survival kit if we all had to rush underground, I LOVE them THAT much!

TO ALL MY READERS IN NOLA ~ A BIT-O-GREEN For YOU!

You are cordially invited to
LIVE GREEN – MAKE GREEN
A Free Economic Empowerment Presentation
Thursday, August 7, 2008 from 7:00-9:30 PM
New Orleans Convention Center
1201 Convention Center Blvd. | New Orleans





Admission is Free
Open to Residents of New Orleans and Surrounding Communities

Join us and hear more about a rewarding opportunity to make money while making a difference. Learn how to live green and start your own green business from a distinguished panel of experts. Guests will also receive a complimentary “business in a box” (more than $500 value) to help get your new green business started including:

• Shaklee Membership Start your own green business
• Business Training Learn from top green/financial experts
• Personal Business Web Site Free For Three Months* Work from home
• Shaklee Cares® Product Pack A gift to help you build a brighter future
• Personal Coaching The opportunity for one-on-one business coaching post-event


Bring this flyer with you! It is your free pass
and ticket to a FREE $500 business package.

*(Personal Web Site costs $14.95 per month after free three month trial)



Dear Friends

I am very excited to invite you to an amazing event that is coming to New Orleans. It’s all about empowering people to make a difference—in the lives of others, in the environment and in our own financial destiny.

The event, “Live Green – Make Green,” is a FREE economic empowerment presentation hosted by Shaklee Corporation that will give you the tools you need to start your own green business.

The presentation will be held Thursday, August 7, 2008 from 7:00-9:30 PM at the New Orleans Convention Center.

You will hear from a panel of distinguished speakers hosted by Shaklee’s Chairman and CEO, Roger Barnett:

 Sloan Barnett, Consumer Advocate and Author of Green Goes with Everything
 David Bach, finance guru and New York Times® best selling author
 Vidar Jorgensen, President, Grameen America, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Winner Grameen Bank
 Roland Oosterhouse, Lifetime Shaklee Master Coordinator and Green business entrepreneur
 Leonard & Coletta Haskins, Shaklee Coordinator and Green business entrepreneur
 Stephen Moret, Louisiana Secretary of the Department of Economic Empowerment.

We’ll learn:
• Why a Green business opportunity is for everyone and anyone
• How your life can be transformed by taking control of your economic future
• What you can do to take care of your health and the planet
• How you can earn additional income quickly while you build a long term residual income

You will also get an unprecedented opportunity—a chance to start your very own green business for free!

Shaklee will provide a complimentary “business in a box” with everything you need to get your green business started. And in addition to the expert advice you’ll hear at the presentation, I will be happy to help you set up your business and make the most out of the tools that you have been given.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity—if you have ever thought about starting your own business, you don’t want to miss “Live Green – Make Green.”

I have attached an invitation with information about this event. Please make sure you present the invite at the front door in order to receive special VIP seating and then again after the meeting in order to receive your FREE “business in a box.” I would like to meet with you briefly beforehand to give you a short overview of what will be discussed and answer any questions you may have. Please give me a call:
Patty matlock
www.shaklee.net/pmatlock
732-790-7408
Good health is not expensive, It's priceless.

I look forward to hearing from you soon and joining you at this fabulous event!


Patty


~ Check all of this out! It is REALLY good stuff. It is all that we use here at HOUSEONAHILL!!!!