Ok, I admit.  I just love that word snarky, but there is trouble with being snarky, i.e. passing judgment on people.  We all pass judgment on people, every day of our lives.  I know that I do it although I try not to and I try to catch myself when I do.  Yet, the problem with judgment is that we don’t judge ourselves fairly (or we rarely do).  In fact when I woke up this morning (actually July 1, not 6/30), this was my Biblegateway verse for the day:

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”- Romans 12:3

What a message.  I mean we have all heard talk about glass stones and that is so true.  None of us are perfect.  We all have something that we can do better in the eyes of the Lord.  And we will all stray.  Living a life of a Christian is hard work (but so is life in general) and being human we will fall short.  We can just try to pick it up and do better next time. 

I know I have a strong problem with judgment although I am getting better.  I am much more accepting of people’s lives and life choices although people sometimes just piss me off.  I am much better about staying out of folks business as well, although not as good as I would like to be.  Part of my nature to help people or rather try to be helpful to people lol.

Anyway, on that same token, folks are judging Michael Jackson without really knowing all of the facts.  Nobody has lived his life or been in his shoes.  Who knows what he was struggling with that would have made someone else crack and done worse.

Today I will strive to be less judgmental and will work on being a beacon of positivity (even against the BET Awards and TBS’ insistence on promoting black stereotypes).  I will turn my judgment inward to being the best me I can be.

http://www.artomatic.org/

Artomatic is a month-long art festival in DC that is free to the general public celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Monument Realty and the Capitol Riverfront BID have provided a brand-new 275,000 square foot building to host Artomatic, right next to the Nationals Stadium. The event features nine floors of visual and installation art, theater performances, dance and comedy, three music stages, street performances such as fire dancing and drum troupes, and a film screening theater. Workshops and seminars are held all month long and special events such as the Washington Post's Peeps diorama finalists, the Zombie Prom, Box Racing, body paint shows, and a no-holds-barred Art in Fashion Show.

With four stages, four bars and a lounge on each floor, the 10th Anniversary Artomatic is bigger than ever. 52,500 people attended Artomatic last year, and 70,000 are expected this year. Over 1,000 visual artists and 600 performing artists are exhibiting this year.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival - THIS weekend and next

http://www.festival.si.edu/index.aspx

Art Unplugged: 38 Acts. 8 Weeks. 8 Locations.

http://newsroom.dc.gov/show.aspx/agency/dcarts/section/2/release/17382/year/2009

Capital Hip-Hop Soul Fest, nuff said, one day only

http://www.capitalhiphopsoulfest.com/

Capital Fringe Festival (not free, but darn close)

http://www.capfringe.org/

Hundreds of performances all over the city - to those that went to see the Stalker play last year, alas it looks like he isn't performing this year.

You have to shop anyway,why not start at this link -  http://www.upromise.com/guest/2080517432

So, I’ve had this raging headache for two days (off and on) and I thought it would be the perfect time to write a blog about the many happenings in my life.

So I went to see The Wiz with Ashanti and Orlando Jones.  It also had Dawnn Lewis and Tchina Arnold.  Everybody was AMAZING, except Ashanti.  Granted this was only her 2^nd performance, but it was very clear that she was on the stage with professionals and she didn’t “own” her performance.  However, it is worth the ticket.  Who knew Orlando Jones would be so great?  And the guy who played the Cowardly Lion – just fantastic.

Ahhh, New York City.  One of the things I love about NYC is how picturesque it is.  Yep, I said that correctly.  Especially Uptown.  It’s like every scene is a picture of just life.  The day to day things you do to get by.  New York has that raw and gritty because of just the sheer volume of people. 

Online Dating

Yes, somehow I was convinced that since I’ve been on the road more than I’ve been home as of late that I should try Match again.  What a big waste of money!  Here was my experience

1)      Women take time to build up trust.  Yes, she is going to want to exchange a few emails first and get to know you before giving you her number and meeting up.  Quit rushing the meet up the day after you wink.  So to the guy who told me I should travel up to see him tomorrow instead of meeting someplace halfway and then trying to call me out my name b/c I told him that wasn’t happening – gasface to you.

2)      Having a lot of rules for women – you should do this when we chat – is really a turn-off; so to the guy who told me to post lots of pictures of myself on yahoo when we chatted and when I said I didn’t want to and got an attitude, something’s thing wrong with you.

3)      Speaking of turn-offs, nothing will make me run to the hills faster than someone who is trying to rush things or appear too clingy.  We haven’t even spoken over the phone already you are talking about moving to be the right person in your 3^rd email? So,  I know you don’t have a job and are probably sitting around bored, but calling someone two Saturday nights in a row doesn’t make you look good.  I don’t care if I am sitting at home watching Pauly Shore movies, I am not going to answer the phone to at least appear like I have a life

I mean, I can meet regular crazy guys for free.  And maybe it is just my personality, but the guys I met on match were definitely NOT my type.  My CL experience was much more fun and much more rewarding, but I’ve turned in my online dating profile.  I’ll just have to find time to get out more when I am home .

Speaking of home, Jean-Claude and Roxie have spent almost a month at my mother’s!  While I know they miss me, I think they won’t want to come home because of how she spoils them.  She lets them out in the garden everyday and they even brought her a bird!  At my house they just get to watch through the window.

So I learn something every day and what I’ve learned is that what you think you want is not always what you want.

You have to shop anyway, so why not start through this link http://www.upromise.com/guest/2080517432

help me earn points towards my student loans and start your online shopping from here first

help me earn points towards my student loans and start your online shopping from here first