Friday
03Jul
the rants, raves and ramblings of ms. lee
Thursday
02Jul
Travelocity
Thursday, July 2, 2009 at 12:00AM This 4th of July weekend I'm heading down to the DC Area for business and pleasure.
While this qualifies as a getaway, I realize I am well overdue for a full-fledged sight-seeing, foodsampling, sunbathing, jetskiiing, take-a-day-off-after-I get-home-because-I-barely-slept type of trip.
In thinking about where I would like to go, I also realize there has to be one of three things involved to make a destination worthwhile: significant black history, the food, and if there is a beach. If I can get two out of three, I'm good. Three out of three, whoooo hah!
I've been to many U.S.and Caribbean destinations already. Excluding Chicago, I'd like to spread my wings even farther.
THURSDAY TEN SPOT
THE TEN PLACES I'D LIKE TO VISIT
The Chi - Ever since I saw Love Jones, I've been dying to go. The city seems to reek of history and culture, the Queen of Everything is there and our President still has a home here that I must see.
AUSTRALIA Strategically, I'd like to make this trip when it is the DEAD of WINTER in NY! How cool is it to travel into another season?! Yes, the Caribbean is warm all year round, but another season. Where'd you go? To the Summer? Never been there! Exactly! I'll be sure to check out the Aboriginal history and visit all the tourist traps, but rest assured my friends, I'll be on the beach!
BRAZIL The excuse to be half nekkid on a beach, even moreso than usual, is so enticing! The language is sexy and from what I've had of Brazilian food here in NY, I know I will be in heaven.
JAMAICA Growing up in East Flatbush, I never felt the need to visit Jamaica. I was surrounded by its countrymen, the music and the food. I had my fill. But as I grew older I learned I had distant relatives from the island and most everyone who's gone has given it wonderful reviews. Having just read a Jamaican slave narrative, I am most certain I will visit there very soon.
EUROPE London, Spain, Italy, France and Greece. I want to eat, visit the Vatican,and buy see *sigh* buy the fashion in Italy; see the Louvre andthe Eiffel Tower, and sunbathe on the Riviera in France;visit Buckingham Palace and Wimbledon in London. In Greece, I want to visit the Parthenon, and again swim/sunbathe on the Mediterranean.
AFRICA
Angola, Soweto, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique. And Botswana, so let us speak about the motherland.... -Stetsasonic
- Cairo, Egypt - In this lifetime, it is a must that I visit the pyramids. One of my Alumni Board Members just returned and was saying how amazing it was to see that the people who built the pyramids looked just like us. Aside from that, the pyramids are one of the greatest architectural feats in the world.
- South Africa
- The Gold Coast where the slaves were shipped to U.S. and Caribbean ports.
DUBAI We have no reason to be in the Middle East. None. At least, I don't. But this is the hotel at dusk.
Awesome.
THAILAND Food, culture and the beach. I've always wanted to visit, but backed off once the tsunami hit. It's highly unlikely that it will happen again(that's what I tell myself.) Phuket*, I'm gonna do it anyway. (pronounced poo-ket, not phuck-et like I originally thought)
TIFFANY'S Yep, that's right. That is a trip that needs scheduling. It doesn't fit into any of my vacation criteria, but that's okay. I've never been in there and I am sure it will be an adventure. Souvenirs? Yes, one for myself in a little blue bag! :o)
And since we're on the subject of ice...
ALASKA There's a cruise that goes to Alaska in July. Glaciers, moose, and a potential Palin sighting? Not exactly my idea of fun. But if I have to add cold to the mix at any point, this would be the way I'd want to do it.
That's my dime folks!
tagged Thursday Ten Spot in travel
Thursday Ten Spot in travel Monday
29Jun
BET your bottom dollar...
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 06:04PM 
Who here thought BET was going to put on a classy show because it was an MJ Tribute? Please raise your hand.
You? And you? And you?
Okay.
All three of you, go to the corner. You get an F.
BET is BET. BET's demographic is 14-29, which we haven't been for some time. Well at least I haven't been 29 for at least two years. Shut it.
There were some highlights, where we almost looked polished, but most everyone that was there in the crowd loved exactly what they got. And I can't lie, I was entertained. Jamie Foxx is silly as all hell. NeYo is amazing. Keri Hilson is bad. Idris Elba is fine for no reason. Chaka Khan pretends black isn't the least bit hot. Eddie Levert cusses. This is what he does! This is BET. This is what they does.
My problem comes in when we are supposed to be trying to pay tribute to the greatest entertainer in the world. Janet Jackson comes on the stage barely holding it together and thanks everyone for honoring her brother, not the icon. And directly after, Weezie and Drake are singing about 'f*ckin every girl in the world' with little children dancing with them on the stage. It was like putting ice in Henny. It diluted and changed the taste.
And then we close out with JayZ performing DOA, without nary a tribute to Mike. Yes. We all know Hov calls the shots and is King. But many tuned in to see the tribute to THE King. Would it have been hard to kick the "You Rock My World Remix"? That would have at least marked one of MJ's most recent contributions - says, I, the backseat director.
Perhaps BET's timing/schedule of performers was just off, but I believe they owe us another a tribute: a grownup, well thought out one this time. I'll put money on it that MTV or a major network is going to take over the task. It's just that it would be nice to see us do it the right way for once.
Monday
29Jun
It's a Celebration!
Monday, June 29, 2009 at 05:48PM
A sneak peek at Rabbit's Lucky Number's One Year Anniversary!
Check out more pics in the PHOTO GALLERY!
Friday
26Jun
Do You Remember the Time...
Friday, June 26, 2009 at 02:51AM 
I've always known Michael Jackson.
I was raised on him, if you really want to be technical. Raised on him the way most Black folks were raised on bacon, beatings and the Bible.
Do you remember the Destiny Album? Don't blame it on the sunshine, don't blame it on the moonlight, don't blame it on the good time, blame it on the boogie. Whoo!
Or the Triumph Album with Can You Feel It? With the glitter?! (Can you just about feel the whippin you would have gotten if you even tried that mess in the house?) And Heartbreak Hotel? Man, I could sing those songs for you to this day. AND I could show you the dance moves my sister and I made up in the basement! Okay. Maybe I can't show you. I'm not quite as limber or acrobatic as I was back then. ;o)
What about Off the Wall? And THRILLER?! Forget about it! We stayed up to watch the premiere of it, and had nightmares about the yellow werewolf eyes. But we watched it again, the next time it came on! Run Ola Ray, run!
Oh! And don't forget the MJ posters and buttons! One day my dad took our posters (the one in the yellow sweater and the one with the red and white shirt) away because we were acting up! Raised on him, I tell you!
Do you remember Motown 25? When he did the moonwalk for the first time? And what about the reports of the Pepsi commercial set where his hair caught fire? As a young girl, I was devastated!
So, of course, it hurts me today to learn that he's passed away. Of a heart attack.
Michael Jackson had an enormous talent that he embraced, honed, perfected and then shared with us. We were never going to get scraps from Michael Jackson. His appearance was unique and impeccable. His steps and execution: flawless. The songs he chose: timeless.
Whether we were feeling him or not, we could rest assured what he was putting out was going to be from the heart. As much as it was ingrained in him, it seemed to be something he loved to do.
He was preparing to do another tour, at fifty years old, and his heart gave out. Perhaps because he'd already given us the best he had? Only God knows.
But the one thing I do know, is that despite his flaws, quirks, and physical anomalies, Michael Jackson always gave his best. Some will choose to remember only those flaws. But the truth is, Michael Jackson touched most EVERYONE'S life in a good way at some point. And for THAT I will always remember Michael.
Rest in Peace, MJ.