Family & friendz...

Last weekend the fam and myself traveled to NYC to check in on my eldest daughter and my three grandchildren. We arrived in NYC early Sunday morning stopped by my daughters and she had things to do for the day. Went to the usual spots like Nicholas Cultural on Harlem's east side to get my oils and incense. Stopped by 116th African Market to pick up some Mudd cloth that I use around the house and in both cars. Our check in to the hotel wasn't until 3pm and to be honest time was flying ever since we pulled into the city. We stopped by a food truck and I ordered a falafel and then made our way downtown to get a whole pizza from Joe's Pizza. Ehh it wasn't the best but Erv seemed to like it my youngest daughter and I were like it was too saucy with no seasoning extremely bland.

As we left downtown we made our way back to an Anime store called "Forbidden Planet" for the youngster, after she quenched her reading thirst with two books we headed uptown to the Hotwire hotel we booked online.

Soo...we arrive at The Marriott Yonkers Courtyard Hotel. My review of what happened pretty much sums up why we will never stay there again. After a night from hell, woke up early to take my daughter to the laundry so she could catch up on clothes, her washing machine broke during the pandemic and she hasn't been able to purchase a new one. We finished up around 10;30 in which I had to hurry get her home and scurry back to Westchester to pick up the fam. Talk about exhausted... After I picked them up we headed back to the city and stopped at City Island since it was lunch time, I wanted to see if the seafood places had any lunch specials. I first went to the restaurant on the water but as I observed this woman's shrimp as she passed by it was heavy breaded. I hate heavy breaded shrimp big turn off so, I walked out and drove down the street and came across The Original Crab Shanty. They had some awesome shrimp basket for only $14.99 the shrimp were crispy and not over breaded like I observed down the street at another restaurant. After my youngest daughter online class was over we left and drove to the city and visited with my mentor, Abiodun in Harlem.

We spent about two hours with Dune unfortunately I came on a day where NYC parking laws were enforced and it was before 6pm. After we left Dune's we headed down to my favorite place "La Boabab" restaurant on 116th street and got three fish dinners and some Sorrel for the road. That fish was soo good I tore mine up right there in the car in front of the restaurant. I literally inhaled my food and was licking my chops like it was nobody's business and drank a sorrel to make it complete. I absolutely love this restaurant! I dropped off my daughters plate in the Bronx and got on the road to Rochester. We stopped one more stop near the George Washington Bridge to get the Johnson's something sweet to eat. The drive seemed longer than usual even though I wasn't driving back. As we pulled into Rochester early morning, Tuesday it was peaceful & quiet just how we left it. As we arrived we all hurried out of my SUV and scurried to bed glad to be home back in the ROC.

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Blessingz,

The Filmstress

Purposeful energy

It’s extremely stressful today to stay positive wit so many issues surrounding our very being. If it isn’t politics playing tricks on our mind it’s communities of color being snuffed out. I find it a challenge to fight off other people’s moods and energy because some times I really don’t want to be around negative energy. I‘ve come to the point where I want to surround myself with others who have a sense of purpose. In my journey of life when I surround myself with folks with ideals and goals they bring out the best in me.

Today I spoke to a sistah from Roxbury Massachusetts who has the same type of ideals of teaching the youth skills for the future. I needed that push because I made a slide show for a few students and materials. I had made it a few months ago and really didn’t think I could be pushing it online during the winter months. Glad I spoke with this woman she ignited a spark for more business.

Bourbon & Me

Sunday I went horseback riding with my daughter at “A Horses Friend” it was alright just too many people for me. It was an enjoyable ride except for ....well I will keep that to myself and see if the situation arises again.

I rode Bourbon and that horse was moody and slow nothing like Whiskey. Erin rode Whiskey today and she had no problem at all dayum how I wanted to ride Whiskey. I think the next time I am going to reserve according to the horse. Ervin cooked a salmon burger and some broccoli which was delicious. We both sat down and watched “I am Not your Negro” with the window open enjoying that cool Canadian air. Its a shame that James Baldwin’s message is still applicable to today in what we are experiencing nationally.

Lately Rochester, NY has been on the news in a negative light. Not to long ago Leticia Astachio a former Rochester city court judge was fired for drinking and wrecklessly abusing her position. Now we have Mayor, Lovely Warren Rochester’s first Black woman Mayor in office and she is under investigation for not coming forward and firing the six officers that killed Daniel Prude. Daniel Prude was a black man from Chicago that was having a mental breakdown running down Jefferson Ave butt naked at 3am & was murdered by city of Rochester police officers by asphyxiation.

I am disappointed with the actions of the mayor because whether she knew March 23rd or August 4th why didn’t she fire the officers first and tell the community. It was her responsibility to enlighten the community instead of the seeing the video via news that she knew and did nothing. The chief stepping down and then two days later she fires him. I’m trying to make sense of the mayor firing the chief of police for what she did herself which was keeping the situation quiet. Both of the city officials blaming one another for getting caught covering it up.

State Attorney General, Letitia James has come upstate to clean up this awful mess we having going on in City Hall. It's one thing to mishandle a situation admit it and move on but Lovely Warren continues to lie blaming everybody but herself. I believe if she had done the right thing and asked for the resignation of the police officers the community would have backed her 100%. Instead she has betrayed the community at such a low level, but hiding the facts of Daniel Prude death. I can't see how she thinks she is going to be re-elected in Rochester again.

Rochester overall is a pretty nice city it has numerous Wegman's & Aldi's grocery stores which both provide healthy food at a good price. Lately the 16 shot on Pennsylvania Ave house party has had the nations eyes on Rochester like we are Chicago which we are far from that type of killings.

The only way I keep my sanity is by doing my research for my retirement boat. I am eager to find a nice good size 38ft sailboat to live on in the islands with one or two of my Sun's. Yep that's my goal and work from my boat every other week do an Airbnb on land to cook an elaborate Sunday dinner. I look forward to the marina life I love water and would love to wake up to the sun emerging from the water. Scuba diving in St. Thomas snapping pictures of exotic reefs and coral and switch up to. an underwater camera.

Sunday I found out my drone is having technical issues with the gimbal. Trying to reset it and hope I don't have to send it in to be DJI to be repaired. I really need an Inspire 4 and may have to go all in and purchase one before I get this boat because that is my bread and butter.

Hopefully the city of Rochester can get pass this negative news and change the direction to something positive. Because Rochester doesn't need to be coming out of Lester Holt's mouth unless it is about snow. I love Lester at abc WorldNews Tonight, I just don't like the city where I live being highlighted for cops killing a black man going through a mental health breakdown.

This week is flying by and feels like I am in a movie watching my life play out on screen.

Till next time...Blessingz

The Filmstress