KILLING DESIRE TO SAVE MY LIFE

"...Stop! The love you save may be your own...you're headed for a danger zone."
--Jackson 5

I killed my microwave. Not literally, of course. But using it was killing me...LITERALLY. And while I am no doctor (biology was the least of my favorite subjects in school), and I do not have all of the facts--YET, this is a move that so far, seems to be right and justified. From what a few of my friends have told me (one of whom is a strict vegan and "knows about these things,") microwaving food alters it to the point where the foods' natural ability to nourish and help our bodies fight infection or disease is seriously diminished and often eliminated. What is ultimately leftover is not something we would willingly touch let alone ingest. I'm going to stop here, because again--I do not have all of the facts, but I am working on it.

The past twelve days have been tough. I love my food piping hot. A microwave always guaranteed me that. I'm in unfamiliar territory; at almost 40, I really just cannot recall what life was like before we "nuked" food. While not using a microwave really tests my patience, at least I have an excuse to go and shop for some stoneware/oven safe dishes.


Currently Listening To: "Danger" and "Vagabound"by Amir Sulaiman, "Scar Tissue" by Shanelle Gabriel, "Jesus Children of America," by Stevie Wonder
Currently Reading: The Fortunate Son by Walter Mosley

SICK, TIRED AND ALL THAT JAZZ

Once again, we as a people are late; late, late and more late!
--Vaughn "Dap" Dunlap
School Daze

The revolution was televised. Some of us missed it because you were laaaaaaaatttttte! Proof of your tardiness was my recent experience at a popular spot in Atlanta last night which will remain nameless, because the name is the besides the point. The open mic spoken word poetry show started one hour and 40 minutes late. That is 100 minutes; 600 seconds of my valuable time.

No there wasn't anyone holding a gun to my head; I could have left--should have left. Maybe demanded my money back and actually gotten it. HOWEVER, I had been waiting almost a year to witness this weekly presentation of creative word stylings and knowledge being broken down. And my soul was, in fact, filled. But the message was tainted and I had to leave after only hearing five offerings; usually get to hear at least seven and I needed a lot more this time (been going through some stuff, y'all).

We have stop to got to stop this late bullshit. Your word is your bond. If we cannot be at the appointed place at the appointed time, ready and on point, how can we expect to be taken seriously in the fight for freedom and equality?

Currently Listening To: "Past Time Paradise" by Stevie Wonder
Currently Reading: Not a doggone thing!

RETURN

"It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to
Think of how many weak shows you slept through
Time's up, I'm sorry I kept you..."
Eric B & Rakim

After a little vacation and a necessary yet painful, emotionally long reality check, the State of Zora is back. And since I love lists, here are the highlights of what happened over the past 11, 904 hours (or 496 days):

1. The Pur$uit of Happine$$: It became crystal freaking clear to me that for damn sure, money ain't everything and it matters even less if you value the all mighty dollar more than your self worth.

2. Got My Feelings Hurt Quite A Few Times: Oh yes, it's true that, "Love don't love you and love don't care." Shit, sometimes love straight up hates your guts.

3. (I) "Went There:" Knowing that your family needs you and that you, too, in fact, need your family ain't always enough. Sometimes, as Janie tells Phoebe in "Their Eyes Are Watching God," one has to "go there" to really know--and to believe.

More later, including a new blog site detailing the adventures of a former soldier with a new perspective on "what's really going on."

Currently Reading: "The Fortunate Son" by Walter Mosley
Currently Listening To: Optimistic by Sounds of Blackness