Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Keep A Child Alive AIDS WALK NY 2010 Video

Cute video of AIDS Walk NY 2010 made by one of my Keep A Child Alive teammates.

AIDS Walk NYC 2010--"Empire State of Mind" from Michael James on Vimeo.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Shrinkage

No I didn’t cut my hair. It’s called shrinkage. Hasn’t any one ever heard of shrinkage??!

Last night I washed my hair. I didn't feel like doing my normal twist out so I let it air dry. This morning I picked my fro, then put on a headband on to go. As soon as I got to work my boss says " OMG JP you cut your hair!" I said no, it's just the shrinkage from washing it. She replied "It shrinks?"
All I could do was laugh.
Reminding me of the infamous Seinfeld episode! You can fast forward to the 1:38 mark.

Monday, June 14, 2010

There Is An App For That

The group I did the AIDS walk with KEEP A CHILD ALIVE now has an iPhone app! (free) There is an app to save the lives of children in Africa and India affected by HIV / AIDS! Download it now! To make a difference in a global epidemic...now you can say "There is an app for that" :)
www.keepachildalive.org

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Harlem Opera Singer

So I guess one of my neighbors wants to be an Opera singer. I respect the art, but this muthafka in 4D needs 2 shut the hell up! It's too late for this noise... Although, he could be the start of another harlem renaissance

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Guess What I Told Alicia Keys Last Night

Yes. I'm name dropping for a worthy cause AIDS WALK New York is on May
16, 2010 !!!!!!!!! I am walking for the third year in a row.

http://aidswalknewyork2010.kintera.org/jessicaprater13

Last night I got to speak with one of my favorite musicians on the
planet, Alicia Keys. (funny story how she spotted me at a gala) For
the past 3 years I have been walking for the charity she co-founded
with Leigh Blake called Keep A Child Alive. Keep a Child Alive is
dedicated to providing life-saving anti-retroviral treatment, care and
support services to children and families whose lives have been
affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

In a surreal conversation, I told Alicia about my volunteer experience
with Keep A Child Alive and my goals for the AIDS Walk. It was an
amazing moment to share my goals with her, and to get her feedback and
encouragement (accompanied by a high five and a big hug) . So NOW I
have to make my goals happen, which I can not do with out your
support. Please visit my fundraising page and support me with a
donation if you are able. Words of encouragement would be joyfully
accepted too.

Please Donate here http://aidswalknewyork2010.kintera.org/jessicaprater13

You can also show support for my efforts with Keep A Child Alive on my
guestbook http://support.keepachildalive.org/site/TR/Events/kcaglobal?pxfid=1240&fr_id=1070&pg=fund

To find out more about Keep A Child Alive please visit www.keepachildalive.org

THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!!!

Jessica Prater

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Been A Long TIme

2010 I will blog! (and do yoga) I've started writing a long time ago, before the word blog even existed. I used to send out the "jstar newsletters" I would talk about people and situations. (until those people came after me for writing about them) When Myspace came along, I had a little more organization, then when Myspace died down so did my posts. With Facebook and Twitter I settled for status updates and 140 letter limits to my thoughts. I would think about it, and jot down ideas on paper but that was it. Instead of writing up all my ideas from the past few years, I'll just share a few entry ideas.

*I hate the way Wednesday is spelled. Is the D silent or am I saying it wrong?

* What is the difference between a drug that enables your better judgment and love? I think I would rather take the drugs

* For the New Year, I wanted to start dressing more perfessional for work. I wore black slacks and a buttondown shirt. I was asked " What are you so dressed up for? Do you have an interview for another job or something?"

* Is it okay to use the word black? Two white people in one day asked me if was okay to say the word black when describing black people. The other asked me was it okay to say "Black Community". The word black never offended me.


*Every emotion I express seems to come off as an attitude... I DON'T HAVE AN ATTITUDE! I'M FINE!!!!


* Trust your gift. I admire talented people who can translate the image in their head or the music in their heads for all to share. I know people are protective of their gift. But still, if I had that kind of light I would let it shine.

* Why can’t I get a second date? I get first dates, then that's it. I wish someone would tell me what I am doing wrong? My self reflection drawing a blank.

* I was told I need to work on my eye contact. When I see someone attractive it is kind of hard to look them right in the eye. It's like a blinding beauty.

* This guy told me "Treat a girl like dirt she will stick to you like mud". I hope guys don’t really think that is true.


* I love you freak out. What if you called everybody today and told them that you loved them. Even if you had a grudge with them. Would they be shocked? You know I get freaked out when people smile at me. What you lookin’ at fool? .

* And for my next trick maturity and kindness all at the same time.

* People blame a lot of stuff on zodiac signs. Umm what bout lack of home training. Let us not count that out.

* Pork on my fork swine just fine. Bacon stand up.

* You know I need to start a blog about the people I see on the 2 train. The people who hog seats, the outfits, the cool subway dancers, the conversations I overhear, and the crazy folks. Pure comedy.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Happy Nappy-Versary!!

So it has been just a little over a year since I chopped off all of my permed chemically treated hair. Not only has my hair grown a lot in the past 12 months, so has my self image. From my previous blog I explained my issues of feeling ugly and self conscious when I walked out of the house. Those feelings come back time to time, but I now realize it is not the curl of my hair but the inside of my head that creates the feelings.
Sometimes I think about getting texturizer and other conks, coppa's (remember Coppa?) & quick fixes. I want the big pretty loose curls but I understand that no kit will give me the famous curls like Joan from Girlfriends, the awesome fro rocked by Rissi Palmer (www.myspace.com/rissipalmer) , the very beautiful coils of Erika Rose (www.myspace.com/erikarosegarden), or even my friend Regina (who has the best hair in the world..pic below). They all have a beauty that is unique to them, that I have to find within myself.
But all and all have experienced great joys with my natural hair such as my first pony puff (what a glorious triumph!), the time I was able to make 4 cornrows in the front,( next time I'm going for 6!!!) and the sincere complements from unexpected admirers.
Rather than try to explain, I have put together a slide show to show my growth!

Last time I thanked all the natural beauties before me, But I have inspired a new wave of sista's, shout outs to Emmem, N'nenna, Shontell!!!









Sunday, March 16, 2008

My trip to Norway Part 1 Oslo and Drammen

Okay, let me see if I can sum up my trip! My first time to Europe! My exciting meeting with Alicia Keys!! Pics below to illustrate. ( i didn’t spell check...)

I get to Norway early Sunday Morning, I go through customs/immigration/ terror watch at the Norway airport the chick who checks my passport starts speaking Norwegian and I was like "Huh??" Then she started speaking English and said, "Why are you here?", I said "To visit a friend". She said "Who is your friend?" I said ..."Alicia Keys". She said "You came all the way to Olso to see Alicia?" With the most serious look on my face, and with not a bit of delusion I said "Yeah, basiclly".I get past the mean lady and I meet my beautiful friend Lene!! I was so happy to see her sitting right there in the lobby of the airport. ( You know most people when they pick you up just say, come out side and i’ll circle around).I went to the ATM to take out 1000 Kroner, which is close to 200 American Dollars (which wont get you far in Norway) A just a meal at McDonald’s alone is 67 Kroner...
We go visit my loving friend Ivana at work (and she has the cutest little haircut that you ever saw.) . Ivana had to get back to work so Lene and I went to her apartment. Lene lives up on this hill...to me its mountain!. It has a swirling road going up. Lene was hitting those swirls like Jeff Gordon the race car driver! LOL! (but she is a real good driver) We get to her place and it was just the cutest little apartment. She also had a balcony that has the most amazing view of the city of Drammen below. Little homes and trees and you could even see the river that runs in the middle of the city. As I was taking the view and the fact that I finally left America for the first time, I sat on the corner of her bed. ( the most comfortable mattress you ever felt, the moment you lay on it your body just relaxes. when you wake up you dont want to get out) I resisted sleep at that moment and took a look around the room... I noticed that she had more pictures up and framed around of Alicia than there are of her sister. LOL! We only stayed in the apartment for a moment before we headed back out. It was about 10:30am there. (Norway is about 6 hours ahead of NYC time... yeah you do the math)
Lene Drove around and showed me different places in Drammen. We went to this mountain top called Spiralen ( in English it is called Spiral.When you drive to the top you drive in a spiral up a mountain). At the top it was the most amazing view! I don’t think it would have been any more amazing even on a clear day. The weather was slightly rainy and grey, but somehow it was bright day for me. this was my first time out of the country. She showed me a few more landmarks such as the Upsilon bridge (it is shaped like the Greek letter)

After driving around we went to her parents house, a very cozy and warm Tri-level house. Her parents house is so cool, they have a red play house. I found out later it was a BBQ Hut..


Her parent’s surely know how to have a fine dinner party!!! They laid it all out from beginning to end! On the coffee table her mom had a bowl of cheese curls, milk chocolate and some other type of desert that is loved in Norway. I spoke with her parents and admired her fathers artwork. Her sister and husband came with little Oliver the cutest little boy in all of Norway! Dinner was served on very fine China and Silverware, I felt as if I was in a 5-Star-Restaurant!! I hadn’t had a family meal in a long time.We had Fish and Potato’s, the Fish and Potatoes were GOOD!!! YUMMY IN MY TUMMY" I had seconds and then thirds. In between helpings her father kept my glass full of beer. I drank a locally made beer called Aass Beer. (Either I drink that or Drink what ever baby juice Oliver was drinking) So after my third helping of food I decided to lay off the fish and potato’s. I would have had more, but I wanted to mind my manners... and leave room for desert! Desert was milk chocolate cake and this other type of desert I forgot the name of. Its like a pancake that is cut into strips and has butter and sugar between layers. It was good as hell.
I forgot to mention during dinner baby Oliver showed us something new he learned... "Skaal" which meant "Cheers!!! "He went around the table 5 times toasting his cup every time he was ready to take a sip. It was so cute!

After dinner we took Lene’s Grandma home, we waked her inside... Man, Grandma has a FLY CRIB!!! Grandma’s house was Diva fly!!! She had a Big Flat Screen TV!!!


The next day which was Monday we went to have brunch at this place called Glass, Glass was a hot spot! It’s where the the cool people and celebs hang out. The menu was in Norwegian, But all I needed to know was... the word for chicken!! "Kylling" was all I needed to know, so I ordered the chicken club sandwich... with bacon of course. the food was excellent but expensive. But worth it. And at the next table over sat a Norwegian Celebrity. Lene knows all the who’s who of Norway, she is so in the know. She told me he was a famous race driver. His name was Henning Solberg. Who knows the next time I’ll meet a Norwiegan celebrity, so I took a picture with him!

After we ate, we drove to the city of Oslo, where we went to Holmenkollen it is famous place for Skiing and Ski-Jumping, an extreme sport. (The winter Olympics was held here many years ago) We didn’t ski- but they had a virtual simulator so I could feel like I was skiing with out busting my ass.! Then we went to a sculpture park called - Vigerlandsparken which was home to "Sinnataggen" (The angry Baby) I wanted to see the Queen and King’s Palace but it was raining and I didn’t want to get out
We saw a few more sights. We met up with Ivana then we went to the Radison Hotel which was the tallest building in Norway with 30 floors We went to the bar at the top level.
We went to eat at an Asian restaurant and they had an old Asian Man who could rap. He rapped "Its like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder how I keep from going under" hahahahaha!!! What a site! Then he asked me to rap "New York New York" So I hit him with a few bars.

We took Ivana home, she also had a cute apartment. Plenty of purple and plenty of keys.

Here are the photo’s from my trip!!!



Here are the photo’s from my trip!!!















If you cant see photos try this
Norway Part 1 Drammen and Oslo

Friday, July 20, 2007

Going Nappy or Natural? Or going Me?

Why I Cut My Hair….
Everybody keeps asking me, "Girl why did you cut off all that pretty hair?"
First thing's first… It wasn't my hair. Wait, I take that back…Actually it was mine, cause I paid for it!

The other question I get is "Are you going Afro-Centric now?" That one kinda makes me chuckle!

Anyway, It has been something that I've been thinking about since college, I've cut my hair before but, but slapped a perm in it the same day. But that day, I felt was THE DAY! At first I was afraid of what people would think… but then I thought why??? I don't like them or care what they think.

Then I started to think … I would never get any phone numbers or "holla's" in the club with short hair… But then I said to my Self, "Self, you are not getting a date with the #4 Silky Weave, so rocking a Fro would not hurt the pimp game".

So the day I took my weave out I went to my weave specialist and asked her to cut my permed hair off and she told me " NO!!!"
She said " Do you know how you are gonna look??? You are gonna look UGLY!!!"

But you know what? I could not be mad at her because that was 250 bucks out of her pocket.

I left the weave dealer and I went to this barbershop near my house.
I walked in and I asked them to cut my hair and the guys looked at me like I was crazy… Not because I wanted to cut my hair, but they did not speak any English! (Perfect cause now nobody can talk me out of it! LOL.
So one man said, "You want Afro Mammi?" I said "Si… givey mi de Afro, porfavor"

He cut it, and I was cool, I didn't shed a tear.

So I cut it off. And I did feel ugly…I'll never look like Janet Jackson or Tyra Banks… It also means that I will never be in Danity Kane… Nevermind that's not so bad I guess.


The next day I was to meet my group for Bible Study… I told Deniece that I was not going because I cut my hair and didn't want people to talk about me….
She said "Girl, we going to talk about, JESUS… Not you or your HAIR!!!!"

Yeah, that shut me up real quick….

As it is growing out, it is really growing on me! And I see my friends like Mahauganee, Hadiya, Carmen, Carolette, Nette and Janine who are doing the natural thing and are so beautiful and so diva fly!!! Thanks ladies for being my inspiration and support.

Also shout out to all the people who have all the hair care tips and their own personal remedies!

So have created a new album, with all photos of my process!
Here are some websites that keep me motivated.


www.nappturality.com
www.motowngirl.com
www.going-natural.com
www.naturalhairdigest.com
www.fotki.com/queenmoe.

Read more: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=48515335#ixzz0uGmM0jRJ

Sunday, June 24, 2007

Who are the real crazy people in NY?

New York Crazy People,

So help me here,
Today I was on the subway and there was a guy on the train yelling illegible words and jumping up and down like a frog. Then he was falling on the ground rolling on the dirty subway floor, and the whole time drool coming out of his mouth.

Oh! And lets not forget the red plastic hospital i.d. band around his arm…

Now what was amazing to me was not the fact that this man is acting a plum fool, and he should probably get some serious help… what really got me was everybody on the subway just ignored him… like there was nothing wrong!!! One lady just went on reading the paper, another lady just un crossed her legs and moved her legs in closer so the crazy man wouldn't trip while doing his leap frog thing. I'm still fairly new to NYC so tell me this… is that what you are supposed to do just ignore the crazy man? Like shouldn't I call the police or something? What on earth would have to happen for New Yorkers to get scared and move to another subway car… or alert the authoritys…but for real, how can you look at that guy and think "oh, he's harmless"?

I just sat there and looked at everybody like "don't y'all see this man acting a fool?" I wanted to laugh but it wasn't funny… Shoot, I was scared!

I think anywhere else in the world when you see a crazy person doing crazy things in public places you can react in three ways…laugh, runaway, or call the police!!

You know what they say, if everybody around you seems to be crazy, maybe it is you that's crazy??

Read more: http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.ListAll&friendID=48515335#ixzz0uGnBm7DC