If you did not grow up in the Black Baptist Church (BBC from here on out), you may be unaware of one thing: No matter how old you get, there are at least 2 older members who refuse to recognize that you are an adult and have been one for QUITE a while. If you DID grow up in the BBC, you spend your time mumbling under your breath at the old church ladies, wishing your Momma hadn’t raised you right so that you could get one of them TOLD. JUST ONE GOOD TIME.

Not only was I raised in the BBC, for the first 12 years of my life my grandfather was the pastor of the BBC I attended. My grandparents were from Georgia and they were OLD SCHOOL. I bet NOT step foot in the church building with pants on. Even if it was Saturday. Apparently the Lord frowns on women wearing pants. You also bet NOT walk ACROSS the pulpit. That was akin to, I don’t know, spitting in God’s proverbial eye. And you bet NOT eat in the sanctuary. There is a special place in hell reserved for you if you put anything in your mouth other than a cough drop while you’re in there. There were a lot more BET NOT’s that I can’t recall right now, but one I do: YOU BET NOT TALK BACK TO YOUR ELDERS. EVER. EVEN IF THEY WERE WRONG AS TAMAR BRAXTON.

While my grandfather was my pastor, this wasn’t too hard for me to adhere to. There were some MEAN old ladies in that church, but even they weren’t gonna mess with Reverend Neal’s granddaughter. Beside that, I was a pretty well-behaved kid. But all good things must come to an end. My grandfather died when I was 11, and my whole world changed in a lot of ways. First was that my mom needed to find another church that was suitable for all of us. It took quite a few months, but she found one.

I’ve been going to this church since I was 15 years old. I’m now 40. Just want to make sure ya’ll understand that. I’m 40. I’m a grown arse woman with a husband and children of my own. Ya’ll need to understand that. Unless of course you’ve been in a BBC for the past 50+ years. Then I’m sure that fact will roll right off of your back like water off of a duck.

Anyhoo. Last saturday, I had a full day at church. A meeting at 11, another at 1, and choir rehearsal at 2. The first meeting was over at 12, so my best friend and I (and Sweetpea, who was tagging along) went to Wendy’s to grab something to eat. We get our food and bring it back to the church. Normally, I’d take my food downstairs and eat it, but there was a baby shower being set up down there. My church is not big at all, so I decided to take our food into the vestibule (hallway outside the sanctuary) and eat there, since there is a small table and chairs there. This wasn’t the first time I had done this, and my pastor AND his wife have seen me, as well as other people do it. It’s not a big deal. Or so I thought.

We’re minding our business, eating our food. In comes one of the “church ladies”. Doesn’t speak or say hello. First words out of her mouth were,”You know you’re not supposed to eat up here!”

REALLY?

I usually think before I speak. Because I know that to let some of the stuff out of my mouth that come into my head would not be wise and cause more trouble than it would be worth. So I did think. But I said, “There is NO room downstairs, and oh I was GONNA eat SOMETHING before this next meeting.” I’m sure my attitude was all up in those words, because what I was really thinking was: “Look here heffamae. First of all, the word is “Hello”. Second, I don’t know when you think you were appointed the Head Honcho around here, but it really DID NOT happen. It’s all in your head. And third: I AM NOT IN THE SANCTUARY. What? Is God gonna tell me I didn’t make it in because I ate my Asiago Ranch Chicken Club in the Holy Vestibule? I’ma need you to raise up off me and leave me alone…cuz I’M A GROWN WOMAN! And I’m sick of you!”

Yeah, that’s what I wanted to say. But I checked myself, and after what I actually said to her, she didn’t say another word.

I’m just sick of people thinking that because they’re almost as old as Jesus, they have some sort of authority over folk like Jesus does. NEGATORY. I won’t be responsible for what I say the next time she ticks me off. Pray for me!

Anybody got any good BBC stories? Or BC (Black Church) stories? Share them with me!

Thanks to Mama Kat for the writing prompts! A sista would have been lost without them!

(click image to enlarge)

This is my submission for the Rock The Shot Forum January Photo Challenge.  

www.rocktheshotforum.com

I waited until Mr. Day went to work, and then I set up my camera and clicked away with the remote. Then I played around with it in Photoshop until I saw something I liked.  It was late, I was tired, but I was determined!  Even if I don’t win the challenge, I feel good about accomplishing something.

When a photographer takes your picture, there is so much more to getting a good image than pushing a button.  Images straight out of the camera are not fit for purchase. Well, at least when I take them, they’re not! Some editing needs to be done.  I still had some images of Sweetpea that I took for the agency that were not fit to send.  At the time, I didn’t have the time to play around with them, but today Photoshop and I had a long conversation.  I don’t claim to be the best at photo editing, but I know what looks good to me.

This is how the picture looked straight out of the camera(or SOOC):

And here it is after I worked my magic (click on the photos to see them bigger):

That represents 30 – 60 minutes of work.  So when you see a photographers prices, remember:  It’s not JUST about taking the picture.

New Year, New ME?  Not really.  I’ve just had NO desire to blog. But now I do.  This year, I’m going to start making money using my camera. I love to take pictures, other people love my pictures. I’ve been racking my brain for years, trying to find another source of income, but nothing appealed to me. Nothing but taking pictures.  So I’ve been researching how to go about this for quite a while. I’ve made a list of the equipment I want, read all kinds of forums, articles, etc., and I think I’m ready to start.

One of the things I want is a new lens for my camera. A Canon 85mm 1.2 to be exact.  And lo and behold, I came across a giveaway that I would SO like to win!  Crave Photography is giving away that very lens, in addition to some other great things. You can read about that here. I’ve entered, and now I just need to PRAY!

So, what makes me think I can do this?

I got my dream camera in March 2010. Shortly after that, I took some pictures of Sweetpea, and I liked them so much, I thought I should send them to a modeling agency. So I did.  Six months later, I get an email saying that they want to meet my child!  WHOA!  Short story: They met him. They liked him. They chose him.  Sweetpea is now represented by a modeling agency!  After they accepted him, they required more pictures, and I had to take them.  I LOVED those pictures.  LOVED.  So did the agency. So did everyone else.  If I can take great shots of him, I can take great shots of anybody.

So here I am.  Right now I’m creating my business logo. A sista has to do this herself, because paying someone is out of the question. Then to work on business cards and website.  And of course, finding willing participants to shoot so I can build a portfolio.

I’m excited!  I’ll be posting more pictures here just so everyone can see what I’m doing.  Here are a few:

OK. I’m a diabetical and I have no business eating sweets. But I LOVE THEM. I have a sweet tooth FOR REAL. I would rather bake than cook real food, which works in my house since my husband likes to cook. So when one of my online friends started her bakery business and posted pictures of all the treats she makes, my mouth started watering. I pretty much promised her a review if she’d send me some goodies. And she did. Mmmhmm, she did.

PhatSnax is the business, and she sho did pick the right name! I got a big ole batch of her Phat Monster Cookies. I swear she put a little of everything good in this batch. I tasted peanut butter, cinnamon, oatmeal, M&M’s, chocolate chips. Each cookie was a party for my taste buds. The cookies were soft and chewy, and a nice size also.

I’m a bad reviewer. When I got home and saw that box, I opened it and began snacking. I wasn’t thinking about pictures! Luckily , Ms. Phatsnax took a picture of my batch fresh out of the oven!

I managed to hide them from the boys, but Mr. Day gave them a big thumbs up.  What? Great bakery goods are wasted on boys who pretty much eat anything. I kept my stash of cookies, and I made them brownies from a mix. They don’t know the difference.

We have good bakeries here in Pittsburgh, but I have never had cookies like this from them.  NEVER.  Now I want to try more!  But…

I’m a diabetical and I have no business eating sweets.

I’ll order more and just take a small bite every other day or so.  I gotta have PhatSnax!

This was a small trip. There is a Giant Eagle up the street from my job, and I often go there to pick up a few things. Since I catch the bus and I have to carry this stuff home later, there was NO way I was buying a lot. Here’s what I got:

2 Dial Body Wash @ $3 each
(used 2 $2 coupons)

1 3pk Dial soap @ 1.50

1 pk Sonicare toothbrush heads @$27.99
(used $5 coupon)

Spent: $26.79 Saved: $14.77.

I got all of this for less than the normal price of the toothbrush heads!! They’re usually 29.99. I had been putting off buying them, and I’m glad I waited.

Do any of you use coupons? Have you just started using them? Need help? Let me know!

Transaction #1

4 64oz bottles V8 Splash @3/$7.98
(2 coupons for $1 off 2)

2 32oz bottles Heinz Ketchup @ 2/$4
(2 coupons for .50)

3 Renuzit Adjustable Air Fresheners @ .88/ea
(coupon for Buy 2 get 1 free)

1 Soft Scrub Bleach Cleanser @2/$5
1 Soft Scrub Cleanser@ 2/$5
(1 coupon for Buy one get one free)

! Schick Hydro 5 Razor @$8
(1 coupon $4, Got $4 ECB)

2 packs CVS batteries, 10 count @6.79
(Buy one get one free)

Used CVS coupon $4 off of $20.

Spent: $26.23, Saved: $30.52

Transaction #2

3 Renuzit Adjustable Air Fresheners @ .88 ea
(1 coupon Buy 2 get 1 free)

4 Stackable patio chairs @buy 1 for 9.99 get one free

4 packs Orbit gum – Buy 1@1.37, Get 1 free

Used $4 ECB from previous transaction, $1 ECB I already had, and another CVS $4 off of $20 coupon.

Spent: 16.45, Saved: 34.67