TAYLOR SWIFT LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL - I can't wait to hear it. Taylor Swift along with Travis Kelce announced the album during a podcast with Jason Kelce called New Heights, but I have yet to hear any of the tracks. From what I've seen so far, the names of the women mentioned lived lives that were bigger than life. I can't wait to hear the track that talks about the 8-times married Elizabeth Taylor. Now that I think of it, we heard EVERYTHING about Ms. Taylor's love life, but what I remember the most (besides her acting, of course) was her 1.) fragrance called, White Diamonds, and her commercial where she threw in her diamond earrings as part of a wager saying, "These have always brought me luck," 2.) then her friendship with Michael Jackson, and 3.) her devotion to the cause of AIDS research. Are there any parallels with what Ms. Swift has experienced as a child prodigy as well? Anyway, the launch date for the album is in October 2025, correct? Well, in any case, I marvel at Ms. Swift's ability to tap into not only pop-culture but in feelings that most people have experienced, but find it difficult to put them into words.

BILLIE EILISH TOTALLY ROCKS! The top three songs are: WHAT WAS I MADE FOR, NO TIME TO DIE, EVERYTHING I WANTED. I had no intention of watching the BARBIE movie. But then the hype began for both Barbie and Oppenheimer, and I caved. I am forever glad that I did. BARBIE is much deeper than people gave it credit for. I had Barbie dolls as a child and her perfect skin, shape and hair were so far-removed from my own that I just could not relate to her. So, while I was sitting in the movie theatre, trying to understand her thoughts and feelings about her life, her friends, her boyfriend Ken, and her purpose, I found myself transformed by what was in front of me. For those who choose not to look beyond the surface, they are missing a brilliant lesson about the lives of women. I remember feeling intimidated by Barbie, as men viewed her as perfection personified. She was the embodiment of grace and beauty, and the song, "What was I made for" is so poignant. Especially in the current political and social climate that, seeks to diminish women. My success as a woman should not be seen by Americans as limiting the prospects of men. I did not get my job because I am a woman. I got my job due to my willingness to work my tail off, and to add value to my organization. The genie is out of the bottle. Women deserve to live in peace and prosperity, too. “What was I made for?” Well, all should respect my body and my choice. I have a curious mind, and I enjoy thinking about the human condition and making good choices. I have created a life of purpose, and I do not want others to tell me how to think and feel. My success should in no way be seen as emasculating to men. My success should be viewed as something that all young people, men and women, boys and girls can aspire to.

BLOODSUCKER, FAME-FUCKER BLEEDIN' ME DRY LIKE A GODDAMN VAMPIRE The first time I heard this song, I thought to myself, "This isn't just about a man doing me wrong." This about life and people attempting to take advantage my good nature. There are friends of both sexes that I've had to cut from my social circle because they are toxic human beings. There are people at work who lie and cheat to get ahead who abused my trust by endeavoring to take credit for my work. I learned a long time ago to keep a record of my work-product to protect myself. My ex-best friend had too many things going on in her life. We had longs discussions about her time in college, her family members and an ill-conceived marriage. The interesting thing about her marriage, is that I never said anything to her about what I was thinking. I just listened. However, by virtue of the fact that I was in a successful relationship she began to view me as the enemy. She made comments that she attempted to pass off as “Just kidding,” but I knew better. A friend is supposed to be happy for you when good things happen in your life, even when her relationship is on shaky ground. The logical step would have been to change her life circumstances. Not to try and dump all over my happiness. Her behavior continued and I had to walk away to preserve my sanity. I loved myself enough to say “This isn’t right and I deserve better.” If her marriage wasn’t working out, she owed it to her partner to let him know and break away. Instead, she opted for blaming everyone around her for her own malcontent. That’s what hurt me the most. Each of us needs to own our dissatisfaction for the way our life is going. Everyone has the power to accept ownership of this time on earth and to make any necessary changes. Olivia Rodrigo’s VAMPIRE touched something deep within me and makes me curious about the motivations of others, and with that understanding of how others might view me, I can use caution and my powers of critical thinking. But it also represents my freedom. When I can acknowledge about the universe around me, is what I can shield not just my heart, but my entire being from being taken advantage of. Not everyone has pure intent when dealing with others. That’s why I loved about this song. Thank you!

“Make your own kind of music. Sing your own special song. Make your own kind of music. Even if nobody else sings along.” Written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. Released in 1969 by Cass Elliott, formerly of the Mamas and the Papas. In the 1960s when I grew up, it was a time when there was only one standard of beauty, and I simply did not fit in. I yearned to tell my story, to share the beauty that I saw and what was my lived experience, but no one beyond my community wanted to hear it. I was just a kid when I first heard this song, but even then, the lyrics touched me somewhere deep within my soul. That feeling let me know that it is all right to be different, and to not play by the rules that others have established. It took an exceptionally prolonged period and reflection for me to fully incorporate the meaning of these lyrics into my life. I love to write about mundane things, my daily life and share with others and that has only grown as I have aged. My grandmother’s eldest sister may have only had an eighth-grade education, but that was irrelevant with respect to her talents. My great-aunt wrote beautiful letters about what she saw that seemed to come alive for those lucky enough to receive one. My family paid me the most wonderful compliment by telling me that I had inherited her gift for bringing mundane, everyday occurrences to life. For my relatives, my letters are treasured pieces of correspondence. The knowledge that my words have touched people is wonderful and nothing could make me happier. However, what is interesting about all of this is that I never fully trusted my gift for effectively communicating with others. Early in my life I claimed that “I have no artistic talents,” but I did not allow for the full breadth of available artistic talents. Art has so many diverse meanings, and expressed via different mediums, as it could be in writing, spoken, painted, sculptures, visual, music and theatre, literary arts, and a variety of ways. The interesting thing for me is that I never equated my ability to tap into something deep within people as an artistic talent. Sometimes you just don’t know what you don’t know. I served as the emcee on a few occasions while in high school. I gave several presentations at work that were well-received. I taught classes for adult learners and in post-class surveys, students remarked how it was that I made the curriculum come alive for them. I even received a promotion when a client observed me training a class of new hires at a call center. You would have thought that I might have gotten the hint that I have a talent that not everyone possesses, but I did not fully believe in it. Not until I began looking at my finances did, I think to myself, “What if others are struggling, too?” There is an extraordinarily extensive list of financial advisers in my city, but I found out that if you do not have a portfolio of at least $500,000 in which to invest, they have no interest in speaking with you. I cannot say that I blame them, per se. It is all about making a living and if the dollars are not there to make it worth their while, then I understand. So here I am, sitting with less than $500,000, trying to make sense of 401ks and the retirement landscape without any tangible help. At least I understood the basics, but what about others? What tends to happen when you do not understand finances is you pull the covers over your head and hope that something miraculous happens, but it never will. So, I researched how to create a channel on YouTube so that I can share what I have learned with others. Once I made it through all the hoops, I started creating content for my site, GET YOUR MONEY RIGHT WITH YVONNE. I worked with Google to share my site to gauge interest in my channel. After two and a half weeks, more than 1,000 people have visited, and folks have even subscribed, and I had not even asked anyone to do so just yet. I finally told my mother and two sisters what I was doing, and they checked it out and had wonderful things to say about it. My youngest sister and I shared a laugh about a funny story I recounted in one of my episodes about balancing my checking account to the penny. My middle sister asked if this was my first edition and I told her, “No, I have 14 of them” to which she replied, “How come you’re just now telling us about this?” At first, I said that I was not sure if I could write and present enough riveting content. However, if I am honest, it took so long to tell anyone about my passion project, because I was not sure that anyone would find my site interesting. Now that I have over 1,000 views and subscribers, I am rethinking what it means to be vulnerable, invent my brand of art and share it with the world. I am incorporating the meaning of “Make my own kind of music, even if nobody else sings along” into my life. I am much better at acknowledging that I have things to share, and people are interested in hearing what I have to say. That is a beautiful and liberating feeling. My cellphone is my canvas, where I turn the camera on myself, and produce images of self-reflection. My voice and likeness are the paint I use to give my life’s journey its vibrant colors and texture, and to express its joy. It’s a privilege for me to share my YouTube site, GET YOUR MONEY RIGHT WITH YVONNE

STRAPPED ON FITBIT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2017 – Helped me to drop weight and manage it going forward. At 173 pounds, I knew that I needed help to drop my weight by at least twenty pounds. My BMI was too high. My Glucose numbers were at an elevated range. My Triglycerides were too high. My employer encourages the employees to adopt a healthier lifestyle, but I also wanted something that I could control. I took a photograph of myself in late spring of 2017 and really looked at it. I hardly recognized myself. My face was full, and my body did not seem to belong to me. I began my search for the best Fitbit that works for me. I wanted one that not only counted my steps, but one that would count the number of flights of stairs that I climbed, kept track of my heartrate and one that would also keep track of my weight. I selected Fitbit HR Charge 2. It was wonderful to be able to take ownership of my health and get moving. I earned badges during the six years I used the HR Charge 2. I started tracking my calories, paying attention when I received notifications every hour to get up and move. I averaged 12,000 steps per day and dropped weight while I was at it. In 2023, I upgraded to the HR Charge 5 and average 15,000 steps a day. I know that it has accessible programs to up my workout game, but I tend not to utilize them. My progress seemed to flatline at a 15-pound weight loss. I had hoped for more, so I made sure to add strength training to my program. I paid more attention to what I was consuming as well. I began a vegetable garden in 2020 as a lark. In 2024, my husband expanded my garden and now I have plants growing. I have tomatoes, cucumbers, two varieties of peppers, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries all growing in my garden. I never realized how wonderful it is to have fresh fruits and vegetables to pick whenever I want. One other change I made was to limit processed sugar in my diet. That additional change, along with the things I have committed to for a healthier lifestyle helped to start dropping weight once again. I dropped eighteen pounds and now have ten pounds to go until I reach my goal weight. I will be visiting our onsite healthcare office this month for my biometrics screening, and I am looking forward to being within range of all the biometrics markers. My Fitbit got the ball rolling to a healthier life. The main thing I have learned over the years is that I am a priority. My health and my well-being are essential. Not only is my physical health important, but it must also include my mental health which is crucial for living well.

“IT AIN’T EASY BEING GREEN,” said Kermit the Frog. Character in the film, Wicked (Not to mention the original Wizard of Oz movie and the play, Wicked) view Elphaba as being different, odd, something about me is not acceptable in polite society is something with which I am very well-acquainted. When I completed my master’s degree in organizational leadership in 2011, an acquittance said something like, “Oh, I could have done that.” What am I supposed to make of that comment? A white man, making this comment to a Black woman. It is a slap in the face, isn’t it? I am as capable as anyone else, irrespective of my skin color, hair texture, attire, cultural background. I have worked extremely hard to get to where I am today, and I will not hide my light for anyone. Speaking of hair texture, I will never forget when a white gentleman at work said that “You are pretty. You would look good with the hairstyle that Jericka Duncan has.” Newscaster, Jericka Duncan is a bright, beautiful woman who chooses to wear her hair in a short, straight style. We all have choices, right? I do not choose to conform to the standards of beauty that people hold. My naturally curly hair is part of who I am. It does not make me look “ethnic,” which is what a stranger said to me at one point. Elphaba is a kindred spirit. No matter how capable she is, classmates and townspeople regard Elphaba with suspicion and derision. People make negative comments about Elphaba without even knowing her. She does not fit in because no one makes a space for her to join in and show how she can make a positive impact in the world. With the lack of support from leaders starting at the federal level, the space for D.E.I. (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) is getting smaller in this country. Allowing for differing perspectives, points of view are shrinking, and that is unfortunate.

"God, what have you done? You're a pink pony girl" That line hit me in the solar plexus. This first time that I heard this amazing voice was while driving. I switched the channel and heard someone singing about a "Pink Pony Club." I thought to myself say what?! It was catchy and somehow very inspiring. A few weeks later while watching THE VOICE, one of the contestants began singing, "Pink Pony Club" and I was entranced while he was singing. I realized that it was a song about empowerment. It was about being yourself and living a truthful life. The line, "And I heard that there's a special place where boys and girls can all be queens every single day," screams that I just want to be who I am, and who I was meant to be. I can just imagine all kinds of young people pushing the boundaries of the lives they've been living. That moment of "Just let me be me" must be so freeing and beautiful. This song is just so lovely. Everyone deserves a chance to be liberated from societal rules that just don't fit. We all deserve a life that celebrates who we are, and not what others believe we should be. "I'm gonna keep on dancing at the Pink Pony Club, Pink Pony Club." Keep on dancing, people. Keep being who you are and keep on loving yourself. I love you too!

RETIREMENT IS ON THE HORIZON - I pay my loans monthly, but the debt remains and continues to grow: I took out $75,000 in loans and the balance now stands at $96,000. I re-entered school in 2001 while still working as a flight attendant, partly to find a new way to make a living after the events of 9/11, but mainly to finish what I started and get my degree. I looked at management jobs with the airline, but they all required a Bachelor's Degree. I had the capacity to learn the jobs; however, no one would consider my candidacy unless I presented the sheepskin to say that I had attained the requisite knowledge. Once I entered school, I took a series of classes that would provide me with enough credits to earn an Associate’s Degree in Human Resources Management. I believed that this is a good step to management opportunities and it taught me quite a bit about business operations. I kept going and earned my B.S. in Business Management in 2005, Magna Cum Laude. I was so very proud of my accomplishments! By 2009 I realized that my career path would no longer at the airline, and while searching for jobs I discovered a way to increase my knowledge as well as give myself a leg up at a major employer in my state. I searched for graduate programs that would expand my learning in leadership as well as give me exposure to how different departments/divisions/work groups function for the good of the organization. That's when I found the Master's in Organizational Leadership and knew that I was in the right place. I worked and took classes in person at the main campus, as well as in Florence, Italy, and online. I graduated Cum Laude in 2011 and believed I was ready to apply for the positions I found on job boards. I received so many messages that said, "Your resume is impressive", before they went on to tell me that I would not move on to the next round for selection. Disheartened after nearly five years of trying, I applied for an hourly position at a call center. It was a reduction in pay, but I could at least I could get my foot in the door. From the moment I entered the organization, I was learning all that I could and meeting the metrics for my job so that I would be viewed as a valuable asset. Due to my work ethic, I was tasked with training new hires for the call center, new directors and new vice presidents. It was an honor to be seen as dependable and knowledgeable. Within 16 months I was able to move up, by three pay grades to my next role. I put the same effort into learning my new role as I had my previous role so that I could prepare for any future opportunities. After three years of asking for guidance to move up to new roles, my manager told me, "You are doing a great job. There is no shame in your current (lower paid) role. You can stay until you retire." We have no people of color in management, or in mid-level leadership roles. At that point, it was made clear to me there would be no advancement in my future. I feel fortunate that I finished my degree, but I've been blocked from moving into jobs I had hoped to have by this stage of my career.

LeBron James is a fantastic basketball player. That is not in dispute, plus, I am not one to go on about sports figures. Watching him play is like sitting on the sidelines to a beautiful dance, a ballet, a well-choreographed performance on the court. He is using his talents and skills to uplift the game. I am not because of his skills on the basketball court. I am a fan because of the game of life. His charity work is truly inspiring. He recognizes that not everyone will have the chance to be in the spotlight. The goal as a people is to show up, educate ourselves and to support our communities. Another reason I am a fan of LeBron James is the story about he and Rich Paul. Rich Paul worked for Mr. James, but at a certain point he recognized the talents that Mr. Paul possessed. Mr. James allowed Mr. Paul to grow from being a personal assistant, to being a friend and a contact to his expanding business endeavors. Recognizing, supporting, and helping to foster talents in others is, the true measure of a man. While I can't say that LeBron James is the greatest basketball player to ever have lived, what I can say is that due to his generosity of spirit, he is one of the greatest human beings of all time.