I got a PARKING TICKET in my OWN Parking Lot

Some stupid officer was trolling the parking lot last night, during the last minutes of the SuperBowl and gave me a parking ticket for not having a permit. Um, Hello, I live there! I would punch him in the mouth straight away if I didnt deserve the ticket, but still, I LIVE THERE!!!

OK, OK, let me explain more. I live in the PJs and my complex has ample parking for residents, which is great. The spots aren't assigned either, which is cool. The downside is that the lot isnt gated, or monitored regularly, and poorly lit. The parking permit was $25 up until 2 years ago, which is a good price for a year of not parking on the street. One big problem was that instead of getting the stickers in January like we were supposed to, we would get them in March or April! UM, ok, there is a problem here. We would get tickets, and then fight them so much that the cops STOPPED ticketing us because it wasnt the fault of the tenants. Add to that, the fact that the snow and ice removal was half-assed, and you see potential for not getting a permit, but still $25 is not much.

Well, 2 years ago, they raised the price of the permit to $75. Yeah, $75 for the same half-assed service in snow removal, lighting, sticker problem, everything. I flat out refused to pay for the permit and have been parking in the lot free for the past 2 years! (I told you the cops stopped ticketing people!) So imagine my surprise this morning when my youngest pointed out the ticket sitting in my window as we headed out for the day! I was pissed!

HOW DARE THEY TICKET ME??? I LIVE HERE!!!
WHAT WAS A COP DOING PATROLLING A PARKING LOT AT 9:28PM INSTEAD OF OUT FINDING WHO KILLED SO AND SO'S SON, COUSIN, NEPHEW, ETC???
DON'T Y'ALL HAVE OTHER STUFF TO BE DOING, LIKE EATING DONUTS?
DON'T BE MAD 'CAUSE YOU HAD TO WORK WHILE EVERYONE ELSE GOT TO WATCH THE SUPERBOWL! WHY I OUGHTA...!

Yeah, all of that came to mind, and some out of my mouth, but at the end of the day, here it is....

I have a $60 parking ticket to pay because I now have out of state plates and am unable to get the parking permit that would allow me to park there hassle free.

I will park on the street because I know this dude is gonna be stalking my plates now!

Whatever!! :)
Charisse

Barack Obama is NOT the Messiah!!!

That is what the young intern pastor said at Sunday's 11:00am service.

(I've actually been to church two times this year, more than I have been in the past 2 YEARS, but that's another story for another day!)

This young man got to stand in because the senior pastor was in Washington DC with the big choir to speak and perform at the African American Church Inaugural Ball and the Democratic Ball, celebrating Barack Obama becoming our 44th President.

This young pastor-in-training (Yale) drove in the snow on Sunday from Connecticut in order to deliver his wonderful sermon to stress to black folk that in Jesus Christ alone do we have a helper, advocate, counselor and comforter, not Barack Obama. President Obama is a helper in the White House for those who want help, advocate for those things that will be important for all Americans, counselor in those political arenas where he is Commander in Chief and comforter for his children and family. However, Barack Obama is NOT the Messiah!!

This young man will become better and better with time! I am very proud of his message!

Jesus Christ does not pick and choose who He loves! He does not require letters and politics and many many channels in order to be reached! Our Savior just needs you to call His Name and He will respond AT ONCE!!! Shoot, you don't even have to tell Jesus what you want, He already knows and will give it to you once you take Him into your heart and soul!

So my friends, Barack Hussein Obama is NOT the Messiah come to save the black folks and change the way whitey done treated us after all of these years!

My friends, President Obama is the prime example of what ALL of our parents have been saying to us for years and years and years and what we say to our children now and more so every day from now on!

"Look how far education and perserverence can get you! Stay focused and keep striving to be better than me! You can do ANYTHING if you set your mind to do it!"

The Dream is realized and will only stay that way with work from EVERYONE wanting to do what is necessary! Lazy will not longer be tolerated!

Peace and love,
Charisse

I Do Creative Stuff....

I really do. I never told you all that I make art and that I scrapbook. Yeah...um...yeah, my bad. That is how I got into this whole world of blogging in the first place. I got interested in scrapbooking in January 2005 and it's been on and poppin' since. Found and "met" some great people online and actually got to meet a good amount in real life, like Adrienne and Yolanda, and Jaime, to name a few and just fell in love with the whole idea of being creative. I actually travelled to Alabama twice to attend the first 2 Scrap Etc. events (the first one was the best for me) and had a wonderful time all in all!!! To be honest though, I havent scrapped in about a year but I have been doing my art journalling and painting. I wish I could do some "drunk painting" like Adrienne does, but they don't have that here in NYC yet. Drinking in my house will have to do. LOL

I am taking a class with Donna Downey on February 7th too! I can't wait.

So, I thought I would just share that with you all, so you can get to see another side of me!

Check out my Youtube videos and laugh at me. I know I make terrible videos but that is the fun in it!

Peace,
Charisse

RESTORE, RECLAIM, RENEW & BE FRUITFUL

Those are my words for 2009! They are what I need to do in order to get peace back into my heart and soul! I have been off-balance for a good while now, life and sickness got in the way, but I now know where my solution lies.

I "gots thangs" to do and places to go and I want to do them with enthusiasm, purpose and joy! I want to be bear lots of fruit instead of whining about why things haven't gone my way (Thank you Joyce Meyer!)

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Galatians 5:22)

Fridays are made to be GOOFY!!!

I found this through this website and figured I would share the love!!! Happy Friday!!!!


Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

I Always Liked Her and Now I Find Out Why!!!

I always admired Princess Grace, and thought she was the best Princess ever! Why do I bring this up? Well, I took this online quiz and come to find out, I am just like her! Who would have known? I think they are completely right, though, but DANG, how do you know me so well???

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Grace!

You are a Grace -- "I need to understand the world."

Graces have a need for knowledge and are introverted, curious, analytical, and insightful.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Be independent, not clingy


• * Speak in a straightforward and brief manner


• * I need time alone to process my feelings and thoughts


• * Remember that If I seem aloof, distant, or arrogant, it may be that I am feeling uncomfortable


• * Make me feel welcome, but not too intensely, or I might doubt your sincerity


• * If I become irritated when I have to repeat things, it may be because it was such an effort to get my thoughts out in the first place


• * don't come on like a bulldozer


• * Help me to avoid my pet peeves: big parties, other people's loud music, overdone emotions, and intrusions on my privacy

What I Like About Being a Grace
* standing back and viewing life objectively
* coming to a thorough understanding; perceiving causes and effects
* my sense of integrity: doing what I think is right and not being influenced by social pressure
* not being caught up in material possessions and status
* being calm in a crisis

What's Hard About Being a Grace

• * being slow to put my knowledge and insights out in the world


• * feeling bad when I act defensive or like a know-it-all


• * being pressured to be with people when I don't want to be


• * watching others with better social skills, but less intelligence or technical skill, do better professionally

Graces as Children Often

• * spend a lot of time alone reading, making collections, and so on


• * have a few special friends rather than many


• * are very bright and curious and do well in school


• * have independent minds and often question their parents and teachers


• * watch events from a detached point of view, gathering information


• * assume a poker face in order not to look afraid


• * are sensitive; avoid interpersonal conflict


• * feel intruded upon and controlled and/or ignored and neglected

Graces as Parents

• * are often kind, perceptive, and devoted


• * are sometimes authoritarian and demanding


• * may expect more intellectual achievement than is developmentally appropriate


• * may be intolerant of their children expressing strong emotions

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

Moving the Office

Hi Guys, sorry I havent posted in 2 weeks.
My office moved over the past week to the next building. It isn't as bad as it could have been. Our office manager is great and she did a wonderful job. Our company owns this building and the building we moved from so it works out fine. Our own landlord. LOL

Anyway, things are good. Thanksgiving was fine. No drama, so I liked that alot.

Our company had its Christmas party last Thursday night and that is always fun. Watching your co-workers get drunk and act a straight fool-big fun! I drank 3 white wine spritzers, did my thang with the Cha Cha Slide and broke out!

Anyway, that's all for now. Will get back at y'all later!

Peace,
Charisse