Holiday Edition of Getting to Know your Friends... ho ho ho

What are your holiday traditions? Here are mine, let us know yours!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Sits them under the tree, except for one special gift. That one is wrapped in red with a white bow.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? White

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No

5. When do you put decorations up? I start the week after Thanksgiving. But it is a process still in work :-)

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding desserts)? Candied Sweet Potatoes and Fried Turkey!

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Getting a sewing machine for Christmas when I was 13.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What do you mean the truth about Santa?

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? umm... you mean trees :-)

• Living Room Tree - The "Fu Fu tree, All Gold and Silver
• Family Room Tree - Chocolate Santas and Keepsake Ornaments
• Dining Room - The Shoe Tree (It is a white feather tree with shoe ornaments
• Office - The Star Trek Tree (Aluminum tree with Star Trek ornaments)
• Kam's Room - The Wizard of Oz Themed Tree

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love to look at it, hate to drive or live in it.

12. Can you ice skate? Nope

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? My son Kam who was born in December.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Remembering the reason for the season and gathering with family and friends.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Cookies and my late Aunt Met's pound cake.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Cooking with my mom on Christmas eve.

17. What tops your tree? Angels

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? "Oh Holy Night" and "This Christmas by Donnie Hathaway"

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? I can take them or leave them.

21. What is on your wish list for Christmas? To have all of my family and close friends together once again for a happy occasion.

A Fun Time on a Not-So-Fun Ship

We recently returned from our annual October Cruise. This year we decided to do something different, so we booked our cruise on the NCL Dream (Norwegian Cruise Line). For the prior 6 years, we had gone on Carnival Cruise Line, the Fun Ship! In retrospect, I wish we had continued this tradition, because NCL was Not-So-Fun.

First, I must tell you, that we had a great time. This was due to the fact that we had an awesome group of people traveling with us, and we managed to make our own fun.

Here is a synopsis of our trip:

Saturday, October 14, 2006 - Embarkation, La Porte, TX

Five of us arrived at the cruise terminal in La Porte, TX about 11:00 AM. We were dropped off right in front, and Ruffus went to park our vehicle at the parking lot that was adjacent to the terminal (very close.) The embarkation was the fasted that I ever experienced (and this was my 14th cruise.) So, at this point we were very impressed. By 11:30 AM we were onboard and hurdled into the "Stardust Lounge" to wait for our cabins to be ready. We waited there for about 30 minutes when they announced that there was lunch being served in the "Sports Bar." Ruffus went to scope that out, while we waited in the lounge. He came back and told us that it was VERY crowded and the lines were out the door waiting to get served. (Also it was starting to rain, and there was very limited indoor seating.) So we continued to wait. Around 12:30 PM they announced that our cabins were ready. So we gather our junk and headed to our cabin 8014.

These were the smallest damn cabins I have ever seen! We had a balcony cabin, and it was MUCH smaller than the cabins on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Princess or Disney. There was hardly any closet space, but we had to make due. Luckily, there was room under the bed for us to place our luggage or we really would have been SOL. After we settled our things in our cabin, we again tried to get something to eat at the Sports Bar. No luck, so we went to one of the main restaurants Terraces to eat lunch. Our food was tasty and the service was excellent. Little did we know that this would be the last time on this cruise for us to have such a dining experience.

One by one, our entire group arrived on the ship. Some of us had not seen each other since our last cruise, so the reunion was joyous and fun. We had planned some fun activities and looked forward to sharing this time together with family and friends.

Unlike other cruise lines, NCL has "Free Style" dining, which means you have no assigned time, dining room or seating. This works like a restaurant, first come-first served, or by reservation. The first night we all dined separately, as most of our group traveled from other cities that day, and wanted to rest. However, since we were traveling as a group and we wanted to eat dinner together for the remainder of the cruise, so we had to make reservations. Group dinning is only reserved for a 5:30 PM seating or 8:30 PM seating. We opted for 5:30 PM.

That night we had VERY rough seas, so most people remained in their cabins and many people got seasick.

Sunday, October 15, 2006 - At Sea

Refreshed from a rocky night's sleep we got up early and again tried to eat breakfast at the Sports Bar (top deck.) The weather was still bad, and the ship was rocking – big-time! Again, there was a long line and no place to sit indoors. We stood in line and finally got some food, then headed into one of the lounge areas to find a place to eat indoors. By this time we were really missing the Lido Deck on Carnival, and were beginning to regret our decision to go NCL.

Since the weather was bad, all of the on deck activities were cancelled, which is understandable. However, there were limited things to do inside. The Casino was calling everyone’s name, and I can attest to spending more money in this casino that any other one that I have visited. That still is not much, because I don’t normally even go into the casino. But being bored, I tried my luck, and I won over 200 dollars between the "Wheel of Fortune" and "Black Widow" slot machines.

That night we had a surprise birthday party for Ruffus, and we all wore Black and White formal attire.

It was so funny when we arrived at the dining room. Ruffus commented that everyone had on black and white. It was not until we were all seated and yelled "surprise" that he knew it was a party for him.

Again, we waited several hours for our food, but because we were in such great company, we managed to enjoy the evening. Which ended with a birthday cake and at the wait staff singing "Happy Birthday To You" and of course in the African American Tradition we sang "Happy Birthday to Ya" as song by Stevie Wonder.

After dinner, we all changed and went to our favorite, Karaoke. There was a very strong crosswind on the top deck as we fought our way to the observatory lounge. We were almost blown away, and we laughed so hard our sides hurt and the prospect of falling overboard or losing our "evening hair"!

Karaoke was a dud. Not much participation. I think mainly because it started so late, 10:30 PM. After our group performance of "Proud Mary" we left and headed to the Disco. The Disco was almost as dead as the Karaoke bar, however, eventually they played a few good songs that inspired everyone to get up and dance. Please note that there was a man shortage on that boat, so Ruffus and Winston had to do double duty dancing with all the ladies in our group.

Monday, October 16, 2006 - Progresso, Mexico

We purchased a shore excursion to Chichen Itza, Mexico. We had to meet in the Stardust Lounge at 7:45 AM where we were given a box lunch (tuna sandwich, veggie sandwich, granola bar, fruit cocktail, and a bottle of water) the trip to the Mayan Ruins would take two hours and our tour guides Jorge and Victor, told us about the Mayan Culture past and present as we were in route from the Progresso port.

The Ruins were beautiful, and I am glad I finally got to see them. It was very HOT, and we had to walk on gravel paths, so I was worn out by the time we returned to the ship.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006 - Cozumel, Mexico

We purchased a day pass at the Reef Club and Resort. It was absolutely beautiful. The pass included open bar, all you can eat buffet, all you could eat from the grill - a beautiful beach, swimming pools... movie stars... Well not the movie stars part, but everything else was included. he resort was on the beach and they supplied us with towels, beach chairs and use of water sports.

Today was Nina's birthday so we had reservations to eat at LaBistro restaurant. There is an additional $15.00 surcharge to eat in this restaurant. It was not worth the extra money, and the service was slower than the other restaurant. We had a 6:30 PM reservation and did not finish until after 9 PM. The staff continuously apologized about the delay because of the "new menu", but this was starting to get old as we were hearing this same old song in every restaurant.

Pajama Party - hosted by Nina and Lynda

That night at 10:30 PM Nina and Lynda hosted a pajama party in the NCL Conference Room! Boy did we have fun. The first funny thing that happen was we got locked in the room! What made this hilarious is that Ruffus was locked in the room with us; he was knocking on the glass windows asking for help, this was truly funny. Finally, someone came to his rescue and he and Winston left hightailing it out of there, not to be seen again that night!

We played games and read passages from "Tickle His Pickle"; I laughed 'til I cried. Literally. If laughter is a good cleansing for the soul, I was thoroughly cleanest.


Wednesday, October 18, 2006 - Belize City, Belize

You have to tender into Belize, which I hated, because it is a LOOOONG tender to port.
This was our third trip to Belize so we had done all of the tours. However, since it was the first time for a few people in our party, we got a taxi at the port and took a city tour. Our taxi driver did a good job of showing us around. He even took us to his wife's restaurant where a few of us sampled some authentic Belizean food, Rice and Beans, Stewed Chicken and Plantains. I only got a spoonful, but from what I tasted it was pretty good. After the tour, we walked around the port and purchased a few souvenirs and made our way back to the ship

Pokeno Night – Hosted by Sara and Tami

At 10:30 PM Sara and Tami hosted a Pekeno Party, where we each received cards and put quarters in 6 different pots; Pokeno, Center, Four Corners, Two of a Kind, Four of a Kind and Flush. We listed to oldies music and argued about the "official" rules of the game. We had a great time, and Jan was the biggest winner that night ($35.00!) She continued her winning streak at the Casino where she won a couple of hundred dollars.

Thursday, October 19, 2006 - At Sea

African Healing Night - Hosted by Karan

Four Season's Restaurant

Friday, October 20, 2006 - At Sea

Terrace Restaurant Dining

Saturday, October 21, 2006 - Debarkation


PROS: Embarkation and Debarkation, the easiest and fastest that I have experience on any cruise line and at any port. The staff was very courteous and polite.

CONS: Our biggest complaint was dining. It took a ridiculously long time for us to receive our food in all of the restaurants. Our average wait time after dinner seating was 2 hours. This was the norm, not the exception. The quality of the food was OK. Better at the beginning of the cruise and declining thereafter. Also, we missed having formal nights. We enjoy the opportunity to get dressed up and be entertained by the staff. There was no singing or dancing in the dining areas (except for one waiter in the Sports Bar who did some sing-alongs during lunch.) The cabins are very small and there is not much storage (we had a balcony room.) The NCL Dream is an older ship. No elaborate atrium lobby, and a very funky layout. We were told that the ship was being retired in 2007.

Good! I think it should be.

Lost and Found

Recently, I broke down and purchased a black "Le Mystere Dream Tisha Seamless Bra." Why is that important you say? Well, that girl costs $66.00! And for me to spend that much for a damn bra, is a major investment. You see I am the queen of bargains. I pity the fool who stands in my way when I am in route to a sale. It HURTS me to pay full price for anything, because the truth is everything goes on sale eventually - but they might not have your size.

My girl Oprah went on and on about this bra, and how it made your girls all "perky." And since one of my pre-menopausal gifts was a blossoming bosom, I thought it time that I purchased myself a good industrial strength bra. I ordered it online at Amazon.com and a few days later it arrived in the mail. It certainly looked different than any bra I had every seen, and I am quite sure it can stop bullets. The important question is how does it feel?

It felt great, and it sure looked great underneath my clothes, so I decided it was worth the hefty price tag, and even considered ordering another one in white.

When laundry day rolled around, I decided that I was not putting my $66.00 bra in the washing machine; surely it deserved to be hand washed. And that is when all hell broke loose. I lost the damn bra.

I tore my house up from top to bottom trying to find my Tisha. I took everything out of every dresser drawer; went through each clothes hamper; looked behind the washer and dryer; and tore apart my closet. No Tisha.

This ritual went on for two days. Yesterday, I decided to go through everything again, this time I would do it like on "Mission Organization" (on of my favorite HGTV shows) I would create a pile to donate, a pile to keep, and a pile to throw away. I found bras that were as old as my 23- year-old son (these were 32 A 's by the way); how in the hell could I keep up with a 23 year-old bra, and lose a new bra within a week? Then it was obvious, there has got to be ghosts in my house.

Why then, did the ghosts decide to just take my bra? Well, ghosts are smart. They know that I am cheap, and the thought of loosing an expensive bra would literally drive me crazy. And they are right...I couldn't sleep. I keep getting up looking for the bra. Then I remembered I had just mailed Peggy her Santas, maybe I put the bra in the box. Ruffus looked at me like I had completely lost my mind, but I was dead serious. So when Peg called me last night to tell me she received the Santas I asked her "Was there a bra in the box?" After she stopped laughing she told me no, then she said she would double check ...no bra.

So now I have a huge pile of clothes to donate to the Goodwill, and a big trash bag of clothes that I didn't even know I had. But no Tisha, so I finally went to bed.

Last night I tossed and turned all night wondering where was my bra? I said to the Lord, "I know this isn't that important in the scheme of life, but I really hope you let me find my bra." I woke up this morning, and decided to take my own advice "just let it go!" I would just go on-line and order me another Tisha, and hopefully she would arrive before we leave for our cruise next week.

I took my shower, got dressed and got ready for work. I decided to take one more look;

I looked through my dresser...no Tisha.

I looked through my closet.. no Tisha.

I looked through Ruffus's side of the closet...no Tisha.

Then I decide to look at the area of the closet that I keep out-of-season-a.k.a-too-small clothes and there behind a file cabinet was Ms. Tisha Le Mystere!

All I could say was Hallelujah, thank-you Jesus!

But what I was thinking was, Ghosts I tell you. Ghosts.

When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts

If you haven't had a chance to see Spike Lee's new HBO documentary, it is not too late. It is still being aired on HBO and is worth the disc space on your DVR (or video tape on your VHS) to record and watch at your leisure.

It is an in-depth look at the Hurricane Katrina Disaster and you are sure to learn something you didn't know. It is also a reminder that the survivors of this disaster are still going through some difficult times, and are still in need of much assistance.

For more info visit:
http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/whentheleveesbroke/?ntrack_para1=leftnav_category6_show0

For upcoming show times visit:
http://www.hbo.com/apps/schedule/ScheduleServlet?ACTION_DETAIL=DETAIL&FOCUS_ID=633828





SYNOPSIS:

On August 29, 2005, the city of New Orleans was forever changed when Hurricane Katrina made landfall, breaching levees, flooding neighborhoods, and killing more than a thousand residents. One year later, acclaimed director Spike Lee presents this four-hour, four-part HBO documentary event that recounts one of the United States' most profound natural disasters through words and images. In addition to revisiting the hours leading up to the devastating storm, the film tells the personal stories of those who lived to tell about it while also exploring the underbelly of a nation where the divide along race and class lines has never been more pronounced.

Say What? Pluto is not a Planet?

I was already upset when I found out my favorite TV Show, Stargate SG1, was not being renewed after 10 seasons, then today I get the news that Pluto is not a planet. News like this makes you wonder, WTF?

There are some thinks that we think we know for sure... The earth is round, the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, and there are nine planets. Well so much for what we know!

That's right, Pluto's out!

Discovered by American Clyde Tombaugh in 1930, Pluto has been considered a planet my entire life. But today, the International Astronomical Union (who the heck are these guys?) voted to remove Pluto as a planet. You know you got a lot a clout when you can ban a planet.

Now our solar system consist of 8 planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) and 4 plutons or Pluto-like entities: Pluto itself, Ceres, 2003 UB313 and Charon.

Now Moms everywhere are scrambling to revamp those science fair projects (Not to mention all the textbooks and encyclopedias publishers.)

So now I sit Plutoless, watching Stargate SG1 reruns, and saving-up to complete my SG1 DVD Collection.

53 days to my next Cruise!

I am going through what I consider to be "cruise withdrawals." Considering I cannot swim, I have no idea why I enjoy being afloat for days at a time. But I really do.

It has been 8 months since my last cruise (last December); so I am actually longing for the pampering service that I receive on a cruise ship.

Each year, for the past 7 years, I along with a group of avid readers have vacationed together on the African American Book Club Summit at Sea. This October would have been our 8th annual literary adventure. Due to circumstances beyond our control, the event was postponed until 2007. So my cruise "Jones" really set in. Not to fear, many of my fellow cruise addicts (and AABCS participants) deciding to still go on a cruise, during our annual time slot, the third week in October.

So in 53 days we set sail for our Family and Friends Cruise and I can't wait!

Diva Blogging

No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth; I have actually been blogging for "Divas for a Cure."

For 23 days, my little sis Jan along with a great group of "Buffalo Soldiers" traveled across country and back, with one purpose - raising money for cancer research. They faced the elements of the universe (heat and rain); and of course there was a little "diva drama", but all in all (another EWF pun) they made it and raised over $25,000.00 in the process.

To check out what I have been blogging about for the past month please go to: divasforacure.blogspot.com

Farewell Tracey

This past Thursday, my friend Tracey Gibson lost her battle to Cancer. Tracey (Cracklin's as my husband called her :-) was one of the nicest people you could ever meet. Her smile would light up a room and her laugh was contagious. She will be missed by all who knew her.

We have got to find a cure for this deadly disease. If you would like to help, I urge you to support Divas For a Cure , and organization dedicated to helping in the fight against breast cancer.

Every little bit helps: http://www.firstgiving.com/pamwalkerwilliams

Tracey and her son Kemp.

FREE Make the Connection Bracelet Kit

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With every order of the FREE Make the Connection bracelet kit you will get two kits, so you can invite someone to join you in showing support against cervical cancer.

Divas For A Cure

Summer 2006, Divas For A Cure will take to the road, traveling from the San Francisco Bay Area to Florida, to New York and back, raising funds and awareness to aid in the fight to find a cure for Breast Cancer. Thousands of women annually are diagnosed with breast cancer, in California alone; more than 21,000 women will hear the words "you have breast cancer." An estimated 4,000 will die.

What I am Reading....

When a Sistah's Fed Up by Monica "Dr Moe" Frazier Anderson

SYNOPSIS

Faith Henry has everything a man could want...but she is not a man.
She's the first African-American mayor of Ulysses, Texas. She's married to her college sweetheart, and she has two "almost" perfect children. So why is she unhappy? And who attempted to kill her? Was it her jealous husband, Preston, who wants her at home full-time? Her vicious political rival, J.D. Person? Or was it the irate citizen who threatens her at every council meeting?

When a dark secret from the mayor's past is revealed during her campaign for re-election, she drops in the polls and falls into the arms of Raymond Hart, her charming administrative assistant. She's weary of well-doing, and tired of being taken for granted, but wrong is wrong. Right?

It's the test of a lifetime with no easy answers. Have you ever been fed up?

Click Here to order: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/142084895X/thegoodbookclubt

Review to come...

One of Those Days...

Today, I am having "one of those days." You know, the kind of day, that makes you wonder is it all worth it. My Mother taught me to work hard and have a good work ethic, and I would be rewarded, prosper and do well. Events that have taken place at my "day job" this past month has caused me to wonder, is that really true?

I decided to do, what I do, when I am having "one of those days,"

... I cried to the Lord for help.

Just like that, I got my answer! The words of one of my favorite hymns came to me crystal clear, this gave me a second wind, a glimmer of hope.

I would like to share the words of this song with you, just in case you need a lift today...

THE LORD WILL MAKE A WAY

Like a ship that's tossed and driven, battered by an angry sea;

When the storms of life are raging, and their fury falls on me,

I wonder what I have done, that makes this race so hard to run;

Then I say to my soul, take courage, the Lord will make a way somehow.

The Lord will make a way somehow, when beneath the cross I bow,

He will take away each sorrow, Let Him have your burdens now;

When the loads bears down so heavy the weight is shown upon my brow,

There's a sweet relief in knowing the Lord will make a way somehow.

Try to do the best in service, try to do the best you can;

When I choose to do the right thing evil's present on every hand;

I look up and wonder why that good fortune passed me by;

Then I say to my soul, be patient, the Lord will make a way somehow.

Often there's misunderstanding, out of all the good I do;

Go to friends for consolation, and I find them complaining, too;

So many nights I toss in pain, wondering what the day will bring;

Then I say to my heart, don't worry, the Lord will make a way somehow.

(Written by Thomas A. Dorsey)

Putting Things in Perspective

This month has caused me to reflect on my life and reevaluate just what is important.

Last week, a friend and co-worker passed away following a brief but courageous bought with Cancer. This past Monday, my father-in-law passed away. This happen the same day I was given the news that my job of 20 plus years was just going away, "deemed unnecessary" was the exact term. Had I been given that news a month ago, I probably would have been devastated. However, compared to losing a loved-one, this news seemed both trifle and of little significance. After all, the job has served it purpose. I had the opportunity to raise a wonderful child, provide him with a college education and send him into the world as an intelligent educated black man. For what more could a mother ask ?

I have never been the type of person to hold one job anyway. I really should have been Jamaican. I have done catering, floral arranging, written and directed plays, owned a performing arts studio, taught dance, sold clothes, designed greeting cards, and owned a successful web design business, all while holding down a full-time job. Perhaps, it really is time for a change.

I will probably be put into another position (Or out to pasture, LOL), after all I am a dedicated employee. But I will truly miss the comradely I have with my current coworkers. No one could ask to work with a more talented group of eclectic individuals. I will miss seeing their faces each day and the sharing of stories of our life's journey.

Well, I don't know what is around the corner for me, but I do know that God does not make mistakes. This means that there is something wonderful waiting for me, a new adventure, and I just can't wait to see what it is.

It's Hard Out Here for a P...

Y'all know the rest! LOL!!!

OK Y'all, what kind of Memphis girl would I be, if I was not be proud of my homeboys, even if the lyrics to the song appear to be a little foul. You must admit the tune is catchy and it is a fun song to sing.

With all of that said a big congrats goes out to Three 6 Mafia for wining the Oscar for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song, It's Hard Out Here For a Pimp from the movie Hustle & Flow (I hadn't been that excited since Isaac Hayes won for Shaft - They say that Shaft's a bad mother shut-yo-mouth!)

Didn't our girl Shug (Taraji P. Henson) clean up well for the show! Shoot I didn't even recognize her! You go girl!!!

Of the three choices, it really was the most "original" song, no doubt. I loved the movie Crash, but I swear, I don't even remember the song In the Deep. And although my other Tennessee home girl, Dolly Parton, was getting down sing Travelin Thru, you must admit the lyrics to that song are no way as memorable as "It is hard out here for a pimp!"

I was disappointed that Terrence Howard did not win the Oscar for his performance in Hustle and Flow, and I was equally disappointed that he was not nominated as best supporting actor in Crash. He did an outstanding job in both movies, and showed his wide range as a seasoned actor.

I was excited that Crash won for Best Motion Picture of the Year. It was an excellent movie, if you missed in on the big screen, be sure to check it out on DVD. It is a must see movie!

Now back to our song....

You know it's hard out here for a pimp (you ain't knowin)
When he tryin to get this money for the rent (you ain't knowin)

Goodbye Octavia

I have always loved science fiction, horror, and fantasy. Being an African-American child in the 60's, sometimes I was considered a little strange. Addicted to things like Lost in Space, the Outer Limits and The Twilight Zone, I think my mom thought me a little weird :-). It was nothing for me to me to stay awake all night to watch Fantastic Features (old horror movies) on TV. I still remember the host of the show ,"Sivad"(Davis spelled backwards) our Monster of Ceremonies. So, it was a natural progression that my favorite books would also come from those same genres.

I read my first Stephen King Book, Carrie, back in 1974 and became a Stephen King junkie at that point. During that financially challenging time of my life, all my reading selections came from the library, second-hand stores (a.k.a. The Goodwill) or mass-market paperbacks at the grocery store checkout. I managed to read a lot of very good books by a lot of great authors.

It wasn't until 1988 that I was introduced to the writings of Octavia Butler. The Book was named Kindred it was part of a Black Women Writers Series. I was absolutely enthralled. It was so exciting for me to see science fiction written by black women with a black heroine. I immediately knew, I had to find out more out this author, and I had to read everything she had in print. I was surprised and embarrassed that this author had so many books in print, and that I had never heard of her. Me, the bibliophile, me the scifi-aholic, had never heard of this queen of sci-fi.

I am proud to say that I own every one of Ms. Butler's books, except Survivor which is currently out of print. (However I have read it thanks to a LA cyber friend who checked it out from the library, fed-ex'ed it to me to read, afterwards which I sent it back to her :-)

If you have never read one of Ms. Butler's books, I suggest Kindred to get you started. This book is classified as sci-fi, but really doesn't have a lot of hard science. It is more a speculative work of fiction. However, once you start to read her other series, prepare yourself for a wild ride. Below please find a list of books by Ms. Butler you owe it to yourself to read at least one of these books.


Bibliography - Octavia Estelle Butler (June 22, 1947-February 24, 2006)

Patternist series (In the Series Intended Order)

• Wild Seed (1980) - Prequel to Mind of My Mind. Two immortals, one who changes bodies and another who has perfect control of her own, struggle to live together over generations, as one concentrates on creating a new race through his own breeding program. - James Tiptree, Jr. Award winner
• Mind of My Mind (1977) - An immortal's breeding program has created a society of networked telepaths that he struggles to control.
• Patternmaster (1976) - Far in the future, regular humans are dominated by a society of networked telepathic humans who, in turn, are ruled by the most powerful telepath: the Patternmaster. Also hostile to the remaining regular humans are Clayarks, mutant humans created long ago by disease unwittingly brought back to Earth from outer space by astronauts. The story revolves around the aging of the current Patternmaster, spawning a battle among telepaths to see who will become the next Patternmaster.
• Clay's Ark (1984) - A colony of people mutated by a disease that astronauts have unwittingly brought back to Earth from outer space struggle to keep themselves isolated enough that the disease does not spread throughout all humanity. (Butler was reportedly unsatisfied with this novel.)

Xenogenesis/Lilith's Brood series

• Dawn (1987) - After the near-extinction of humanity, a woman is resurrected by the alien Oankali as part of a plan to colonize the earth with alien-human hybrids.
• Adulthood Rites (1988) - An alien-human hybrid child is abducted by sterile human resisters.
• Imago (1989) - An androgynous being comes of age and integrates human and alien societies.
  The three volumes of this series are also collected into two omnibus editions, Xenogenesis (out of print) and Lilith's Brood.

Parable series

• Parable of the Sower (1993) - A girl with heightened empathy develops a benign philosophical and religious system during her childhood in a walled suburb in a dystopian anarchic future Los Angeles. When the suburb's security is compromised, her home destroyed, and her family murdered, she travels north with some survivors to try to start a community where her religion can grow.
• Parable of the Talents (1998) - As the U.S. continues to fall apart, the protagonist's community is attacked and taken over by a bloc of religious fanatics who inflict brutal atrocities like rape and murder. The novel contains a harsh indictment of fundamentalism and has been compared in that respect to Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. Parable of Talents won the Nebula Award for best novel in 2000.
• Parable of the Trickster - Butler had originally planned to write a third Parable novel, tentatively titled Parable of the Trickster, which would have focused on the community's struggle to survive on a new planet. She began this novel after finishing Parable of the Talents, mentioning her work on it in a number of interviews, but at some point encountered a form of writer's block. She eventually shifted her creative attention, resulting in the novel Fledgling (see below).
  

Other

• Kindred (1979) - Often shelved in Literature or African-American literature, rather than with science fiction. Story of a modern African-American woman who keeps falling back through time to rescue her white, slave-owning ancestor.
• Survivor (1978) - With Earth being ravaged by the disease that was brought back from outer space, and telepaths now asserting control over what remains of humanity, regular humans are caught in the middle, and one group of them has decided to escape it all to a new planet, where they now, as aliens, must struggle to co-exist with the race that already lives there. Although this novel can be connected to the Patternist series, it is consider by others to be a stand alone novel. (Octavia Butler, herself, ultimately came to dislike this novel.)
• Bloodchild and Other Stories (1995) - A collection whose title story, "Bloodchild" (1984), won the Hugo and Nebula awards. The collection also includes four other stories and two essays. The pieces span Butler's career, the first finished in 1971 and the last in 1993. In 2005, Seven Stories Press released a second edition of Bloodchild and Other Stories, expanded to include two newer short stories copyrighted by Butler in 2003.
• Fledgling (2005) - A vampire novel. ISBN 1583226907 Although Butler herself passed Fledgling off as a lark, the themes of race and sexual permeate the novel. Although ostensibly about vampires, the novel is connected to her other works through the exploration of race, sexuality, and what it means to be a member of a community, and what it means to be an outsider. Moreover, the novel continues the theme raised explicitly in Parable of the Sower that diversity is a biological imperative.

The "Panic Annie" Mama's Club

I hadn't heard from my son this past weekend. While I was in bed watching the 10 PM news, they reported ice storms in Austin, and that there had been an 18 car collision. Surely, this had to be the reason my only child had not called me. So, being a card-carrying member of the "Panic Annie" Mama's Club, I did what we do best, PANIC!

I text-messaged him to call me right away (he was at work). As soon he got off from work (around 11 PM) he called. By now he too was panicking because he knew something must be wrong with his mother since it was way past her bed time!

I am happy to report; both mother and son are doing well while dad/husband slept right through all the drama :-)

FYI: My girlfriend Eddgra is the founding member of the PAMC Organizaiton :-)

A New Look

OK, I finally gave my Blog a face-lift. It wasn't easy seeing that I didn't know what I was doing. Hey, I have been a programmer for more than 25 years, surely I could figure this blog-code-stuff out.

I started with a blog template created by http://blogger-templates.blogspot.com. I modified this template to reflect my love for Egyptian Art, Stargate, and of course, SHOES. I wanted to add a tribute to Oprah, but it just did't fit (unless I could dress her up like Nefertiti or something.)



Now I need to get my friends to come visit. That's right, I am hosting a Blog Open House.

Relax, Sit a Spell.... Y'all come back now, ya here :-)

What I'm Reading

Right now I am reading "Fledgling" by one of my favorite authors Octavia Butler. I am also listining to to the audio version of "Christ the Lord : Out of Egypt" by another one of my favoirites Anne Rice.

My upcoming to read list include:

1. The Wave by Walter Mosley
2. Cell by Stephen King
3. Chasing Destiny by Eric Jerome Dickey
4. Changing Faces by Kimberla Lawson Roby
5. Nowhere Is a Place by Bernice L. McFadden

Since I got a new video IPOD for Christmas, I guess I will be updating my music library soon also. Check back to see what I am listening to!