You Can Dance With Me!

DaNcE! dAnCe! DaNcE!

Everybody Dance!

You Can Dance With Me....

The way in which these children are vibrating with the rhythm of Mr. Simon's "Me and Julio" demonstrates the true power of music over human beings.  Think about it.  When we hear a song, we stop and listen.  Especially if it "moves us" in some way.  Pay attention to that phrase.  We pay attention when something moves us.  Emotionally, physically, spiritually...whatever.  It is a movement, a dance, a shift, and a change all wrapped up in a tiny child vibrating to a man playing his guitar.

I kind of feel like those kids today...vibrating along, trying to find the actual rhythm but not quite certain so the dance appears frantic.  This week has been, well, vibrating thus far.  New beginnings, again.  But this time, it feels a little more permanent.  Like I might actually figure out the steps to the choreography of this particular dance.  

Thank you, friendly Universe, for providing me with so many avenues and opportunities in the past two years here in NOLA.  I needed to experience them all and meet everyone that I have met thus far.  Thank you for providing us with our own Louisiana family, even if I didn't realize that is what you were doing at the time.  I love you all.  You may not realize it, but I'm shooting love arrows at you all as I write this.  xoxo

New job, new start, half-way through the first week.  I think we all deserve a good, celebratory dance, so dance, dance, dance, like it's the last night of your life!!!!!!

Happy Wednesday, y'all!

*shimmy, shimmy*

Guns A Blazin'

Dear Texas Tech University College of Arts and Sciences,

Don't pee on me and tell me it's raining.  Really, I'm not that stupid and this situation is quite smelly so you need to stop.

You see, I received a phone call this evening from one of your current students inquiring about how my psychology degree from your school has been treating me for the last 9 years since graduating. First of all, I am a lady and I do not need a reminder of my age.  I realize that 9 years is not that long of a time period, but again, I consider myself a lady and do not need a reminder of my age.

I informed him that I continued my education by obtaining my master's degree in non-profit management from West Texas A&M University.  He informed me that my choice in graduate programs was "pretty good".  I beg your pardon, but I neither need nor want the approval of my educational accomplishments from a child current student.  He went on to ask why I didn't pursue my master's degree at Texas Tech University.  I informed him that it is my philosophy (learned at your university, I might add...) that pursuing a master's degree at the same university that you obtained your undergraduate degree from is quite incestuous.

After wasting about 15 minutes of my time asking me about my "pretty good" accomplishments, informing me of the tuition increase, your continued pursuit of that Tier 1 status,  and how you all have built new buildings.  That is fabulous, really!  Yay for a new business administration building because the old one is really ugly!  You should tear it down instead of moving mass communications into the giant calculator on campus.  But, you didn't ask me, did you?

No, all you guys did was have a child current student call, attempt to butter me up for 15+ minutes, discuss how you guys have been spending a lot of money on campus improvements, discuss the tuition increase, insult my education and age, and then have the balls to ask me for $500.

Trust me when I say I understand how hard it is to "cold call" someone and ask for money.  I was giving this guy a chance.  I was willing to work with him.  I asked him when his deadline for this scholarship pledge drive ended.  He gave me a wishy-washy story.  I asked for the name of someone else I could contact.  He then wasted more of my time and said that I could contribute at a "lower" level.

Thank you for teaching me the psychology behind words.  Really.  It has gotten me far.  But, don't ever have a child perform the job duties that a skilled professional should be handling.  I was ready to work with your student, but he was not willing to work with me, communicate properly, listen or use encouraging words.  It was not charming or cute and he ended up sounding like an arrogant, pompous ass.

On second thought, he was successful.  I would like to donate at a lower level of $0.

Get Your Gun's Up!

Jesus Created Rock 'N Roll

Here's Brother Claude Ely, singing his original song, "Ain't No Grave".  I bet you know this song as a Johnny Cash song.  That's how I was aware of this little gem, but The Man In Black didn't write this song.  Brother Claude Ely wrote "Ain't No Grave" back in 1934.

You see, Brother Claude Ely was a singer-songwriter and a Pentecostal Holiness preacher.  He worked in the coal mines for years until he had a calling from God to preach.  He then picked up his guitar and started singing for his people.  His talents, charisma, and faith in Jesus helped Brother Claude get all the way from Virginia and the Appalachia Mountains to Cincinnati, OH, where he was dubbed the "Gospel Ranger" for King Records.

Notice the soul in Brother Claude Ely's "Ain't No Grave".  Yeah...you hear Elvis, don't you?  When we think about the beginnings of Rock 'N Roll, we think of Buddy Holly, Elvis, The Beatles, and The Stones.  The thing is, Brother Claude Ely's music was what taught some of those boys about Jesus.  Those sounds became ingrained in their bones, like New Orleans is in my bones and thus, Elvis "The Pelvis" and Beatle-Mania happened.

So, next time you are discussing the beginnings of rock 'n roll, don't forget to bring up Brother Claude Ely's contributions to the musical world.  Everyone always thought rock 'n roll was the devil's music, when in all actuality they were just singing for Jesus.