Habari Gani?!

What's the News?! Today is the sixth day of Kwanzaa. The answer to the question is:
Kuumba ~ Creativity!

I respectfully request that you spend some time during each day of Kwanzaa to reflect on what the principle for the day means in your life and how you practice the principle everyday.

I sincerely believe the Creator has bought every one of us here with gifts. Some of us never figure out what they are. Some of us never figure out how to use them. But we all have them. I believe the greatest tribute we can give to the one who bought us here is to discover and maximize the gifts were were given to the best of our ability. Much Love.

Habari Gani?!

What's the News?! Today is the fifth day of Kwanzaa. The answer to the question is:
Nia ~ Purpose!

I respectfully request that you spend some time during each day of Kwanzaa to reflect on what the principle for the day means in your life and how you practice the principle everyday.

My understanding of this principle is that our collective purpose is to return to the magnificence established by our forebears. To reclaim our position as the best example of successful community and society. To be responsible not only to ourselves and the living generations but to our ancestors AND our descendants. Individually we are all given gifts/talents/skills/blessings by the the Most High Creator; our job is to use those blessings in harmony with others to fulfill our collective purpose. Much Love.

Habari Gani?!

What's the News?! Today is the fourth day of Kwanzaa. The answer to the question is:
Ujamaa ~ Co-operative Economics!

I respectfully request that you spend some time during each day of Kwanzaa to reflect on what the principle for the day means in your life and how you practice the principle everyday.

Feeling a little better. I expect tomorrow's post to be more informative. Today's principle is crucial to survive and ultimately thrive in the current economic climate. Take note: those who are creating this economic situation are not effected by it; they have always had and will always have. Much Love.

Habari Gani?!

What's the News?! Today is the third day of Kwanzaa. The answer to the question is:
Ujima ~ Collective Work and Responsibility!

I respectfully request that you spend some time during each day of Kwanzaa to reflect on what the principle for the day means in your life and how you practice the principle everyday.

Please pardon the late post as well as the shortness. Yesterday was great, will follow-up about it later. Recuperating (figuratively AND literally). Much Love.

Habari Gani?!

What's the News?! Today is the second day of Kwanzaa. The answer to the question is:
Kujichagulia ~ Self-Determination!

I respectfully request that you spend some time during each day of Kwanzaa to reflect on what the principle for the day means in your life and how you practice the principle everyday.

See the post below for details about our Celebration today in Queens. I hope I see you there.

Habari Gani?!

What's the News?! Today is the first day of Kwanzaa. The answer to the question is:
Umoja - Unity!

I respectfully request that you spend some time during each day of Kwanzaa to reflect on what the principle for the day means in your life and how you practice the principle everyday.

If you are in or near Queens, New York and are looking for somewhere to celebrate and/or learn more about the Cultural Community Uplifting Celebration that is Kwanzaa; come see us! On Saturday, 27 December (2nd day of Kwanzaa) from 1pm-8pm, we will be at the Rochdale Village Community Center, 169-65 137th St, Jamaica, NY for the 3rd Annual Collaborative Kwanzaa Celebration of the Afrikan Poetry Theatre and The Rochdale Village Community Center. The event is FREE but please plan to support the vendors in the marketplace and to give a small (or large) 'good will' donation and/or participate in our raffle to help fill the financial gap made by the current financial crisis. Go to my website 4dgh.com to get a pdf of the event flyer. If you come, look for me. I'm part of the collaboration team, a host and a vendor; so I shouldn't be hard to find. I hope I see you there!

Kwanzaa yenu iwe na heri! May y'alls Kwanzaa be Happy!

I did my last 15 minutes in a skirt

Well, I gave an hour of pedal power to the 2009 sign. I was wearing a skirt when I went to pedal my last 15 minutes. I had a lot of fun. Because I went 4 times, the folks there kind of knew me.

I have a personal thing about using public rest rooms unless I have no choice. I will use them if I have to, I even use the port-a-potty when I'm doing the Avon Walk. I thought about using the Charmin holiday version just for the experience but I couldn't bring myself to do it. Everyone else seemed to enjoy the experience though.

If I can give an hour, you can give 5 minutes. If you haven't already done this and you will be anywhere in the NYC area before New Year's Eve, I challenge you to make the effort. See my previous post entitled 'This is so cool! - People Power 2009!!!' for where, when and how details. Let me know if you do it (or did it). Visit my website: 4dgh.com/ipowered2009 for more photos. Happy Holidays!

This is so cool! - People Power 2009!!!

Do you know that you can participate in New Year's Eve in Times Square by helping to power the "2009" sign!?

At 1540 Broadway, Charmin has staffed (maintained) public restrooms for the holidays. It's actually kind of amusing the way they make an event out of 'going'. Anyway, I digress, Duracell (Proctor and Gamble sister company) has a Power Lodge where you can ride a 'snowmobike' (an exercise bike with a snowmobile facade). The energy you generate will be stored and used to power the '2009' sign which is the sign that lights up when the ball finishes it's 'drop'. They need more than 230 pedal hours to light the sign for 10-15 minutes. After that the electric grid will take over. You can spend as much time as you like, there is no minimum or maximum. So even if you only have the stamina for a few minutes you can still say 'I helped' when you see the sign light up on the New Year.

I haven't been on a pedal bike for over 20 years but I decided to commit 1 hour total time. Of which, I have done 45 minutes so far in 15 minute increments and I expect to complete my final 15 minutes tomorrow. So, although I will not be shoulder to shoulder with way too many people for my comfort in Times Square on New Years Eve; when I see the sign light up from the comfort of my living room I'll be able to say "I helped, Yay Me!" as London Tipton would say (if you have ever watched the Disney Channel you will probably know what I'm talking about, if not, you won't :).

1540 Broadway is between 45th and 46th Streets. It is open to the public free, 7 days a week from now until 31 December. Sunday - Wednesday, 10am - 9pm; Thursday - Saturday, 10am - 11pm (I think they may close early on Christmas and New Years Eves). The Duracell Power Lodge is on the 3rd floor. Depending on when you go you may have to stand in line to get inside but if you are not planning to use the restroom; once you get up the first escalator you can tell the folks waiting for the restroom that you are going to Duracell and bypass the line. If you take a free picture in the Charmin Sled, they will give you an 'I Powered 2009' frame to put it in when you get up to the lodge. You will also get a sticker like the one pictured above when you get on a bike.

So, if you are in or around New York; come on, donate a few minutes. It's really cool, it's 'green' and if your New Year's Resolution is to lose weight, you'll get a head start on it.

Come See About Me

Showing 'Hand Made with Love by Zakiyyah' crochet creations and some of my 'Buttons Plus' and 'Design It!' items at Progressive Unlimited tomorrow.

If you've never been to my Sister's precious space this is the perfect excuse to come. It may also be a last opportunity to visit (though I remain prayerful that this will not be so).
Progressive Unlimited's (main) Manhattan location is
14 East 125th Street, Harlem, NY.
Chink, the nurturer of this space has graciously invited me
to show my work there tomorrow,
Sunday, 21 December 2008 between 2pm and 6pm.

Another opportunity to see my 'stuff' and enjoy the results of our (the collaboration committee)
event planning efforts is

the 3rd Collaborative Kwanzaa Celebration of
the Afrikan Poetry Theatre
and Rochdale Village Community Center.
This admission free day of entertainment and community is on
Saturday, 27 December 2008 from 1pm to 8pm.
We will be at the Rochdale Village Community Center, 169-65 137th St, Jamaica, NY.

email me at admin@4dgh.com for directions or for more info about vendor space in our marketplace. Please note: this is a full day of entertainment and community which is free to the public, but please plan to support the vendors in the marketplace; this year we will request a goodwill offering and have a few other fund raising activities because this economic crisis has affected many of our previously dependable financial supporters and we are producing this event on a wing and a prayer.

and finally, announcing the Grand Opening of my etsy shop. . .

handmadewithlovebyz.etsy.com

My Etsy shop is now open. I only have a few items listed but more will be added very shortly. Please stop by ASAP and let me know what you think. You can also RSS the site (at the bottom right) to be notified when I add new items.

P.S. visit us at 4dgh.com for more of what we've been up to.

THIS JUST IN!

Don't WALK, RUN for cover, and scream ''INCOMING''! The Ananci Movie has drawn the attention of FRIDAY'S funny man Chris Tucker. Now hold on to your hats, because the entourage expands, as Music Mogul Quincy Jones is being called in to bump up the soundtrack. In addition, the rumors turn NEWS, as Cicely Tyson, and Christopher Lloyd say “I'm interested”. Now, when Harvard's own Prof; Henry Louis Gates Jr., renowned children's book author; Jackie Woodson, and Reggie Hudlin are saying, it’s a cool idea. I've gotta say, HELLO, and where's Oprah? Soon to be standing room only, as this quintessential cultural character turns cartoon, it will be worth the WELCOME...........

Congrats Gemini Entertainment Group, Inc.

We hear you have awakened the sleeper. The Prince of Pranksters himself, Ananci the Spider is going mainstream........ Broadway?...No, Nice, but we hear the Box Office baby, an animated feature film. Who is Gemini? You might ask. It doesn't matter who, there is financial backing, and they are in league with world renowned Christmas Films Studio. This mega blockbuster has International sparks, and they are in talks with Hollywood Heavy Denzel Washington.............
Watch out Will Smith.