Labor Day to Remember

Sir Winston Churchill - “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

This Labor Day weekend I am reflecting on my African ancestors and the Chinese, Mexican, Polish, Italian, Irish, Russian, Japanese and a host of other hardworking people from other countries that labored morning , noon and night to build this great nation we call America. To all of them, "I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I promise to do my part to re-build where some of your generations have torn apart!"

So, today was an interesting day for me from a spiritual stand point, had a meeting with some very powerful and team oriented women in my world peace organization. It was a real eye opener and reality check for me.

The one thing that would sum it up is what I found in the amazing quote made by Sir Winston Churchill, who was an Icon of the 20th century. (read at top of page)
As I develop my character and polish my internal mirror, I am learning that the powerful presence of a person can either inspire others or bring out their weaknesses (and yours) which ultimately creates no value.

So glad I blog!! It is not only therapy for my dealing with vitiligo but for also embracing change. Yes, I got some real healthy guidance and some hit my ego but most nurtured my soul about some things happening that I was oblivious to and things I knew about. At the end of the day, I reflected, refreshed and redetermined that in order to be a 1st class citizen we will always have trials, errors and victories to make us stronger and wiser. So without tellin' ya'll all my business -LOL My Labor Day Sunday lit up a dark spot in my life and transformed it into ray of sun. :-)

Now if only the sun rays could replenish the brown pigment in to replace the white spots on parts of my body to be all even.!! I won't hold my breath but I like the Obama and most of America still have HOPE!!

Have a safe Labor Day weekend and if you have to work, "work smarter not harder!"

Maia

ITS A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD...

Whitney M. Young, Jr. said-

“Support the strong, give courage to the timid, remind the indifferent, and warn the opposed.”

OH HAPPY DAY!!

...BARACK KICKED BUTT!" "oH ITS A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD ....U BETTA VOTE" AND "hE WILL BE OUR PRESIDENT, DON'T U THINK SO, DON'T U THINK SO, DON'T U THINK BARACK WILL BE OUR NEXT PRESIDENT?" IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN THE USA WON'T U VOTE FOR BARACK?!!!" -lol

I KNOW MANY OF YOU HEARD AND OR SAW "THE SPEECH" ON TV OR RADIO AND SO YOU CAN OVERSTAND MY ENTHUSIASM, YET ONE MO' TIME!!!!! :-)

Now I just thought how wonderful it would be to have that many people learn about Vitiligo and visit this site! :-) If he can do it so can I. So tell your friends who have always been curious about this unusual disease and who probably don't know of many people who openly discuss it as I do.

Believe you me, there are some days I look at these spots and really want to paint over them. However, I am constantly reminded by my inner voice and very good friends that I have a great personality and luckily don't have to paint over that!-LOl THANK GOODNESS. (bUT we all can use a little work!)

I really want the end of this year and all of 2009 to bring major advancement to our Nation and the world relating to diversity and growth. Racism, sexism, age discrimination, materialism gluttony, obsessive image visuals and gang atrocities -is WAY OLD AND SO LOST IN A TIME WARP- I really want to challenge misguided and lost citizens who are stuck, angry and ignorant of how they can contribute to harmony and a stronger America to quite simply-Get Help, Get a Legal Job and put yourselves into situations or programs opposite of how you have been living, thinking and spreading "toxicity". Just try something good and different in thought and behavior and see what it feels like.

I am just tired of the mess some of us get ourselves into and we don't see the long term affects of our emotional and non well thought out actions. Change will manifest based on each individual person in our society taking responsibility for their lives and for them to live an altruistic life.

Lately, I must admit I have been feeling like going on a really nice romantic date. I would like to spend time to discuss with the gentleman about Obama, Mc Cain, television programming, my world travel, the best places to dine and the next spa that I want to visit!-lol Sometimes us single women just want a break and enjoy the world changes with someone who is in the know and not bad on the eye!

Okay, just having a man moment! Somebody asked me if I would date a man that had Vitiligo and I said, "Of course I would, but my basic requirements still stand:

1. He has to have a career and a vehicle -lol
1. Totally love and respect his MOM
1. Be community minded and politically involved ---VOTE!!
1. Have a college education or damn good in his trade/vocation
1. Love Culture and open to people, places and things (and if not doesn't mind that I am-LOL )
1. Dress trendy or at least open to my picks for him (not tryin to change just upgrade-LOL )
1. Keeps that beard and goatee or mustache trimmed
1. Likes to stay fit by exercising or playing a sport and if you are too old to do that then you betta like backgammon and bingo LOL, LOL, LOL- :-)
1. Own your home or condo
1. There is always more; come on I am a Chicagoan/West Indian Female!!!

Barack Obama's Nomination and Me- 2 kinds of History in the Making (well he's one up on me :-)

“There is only one way in which one can endure man's inhumanity to man and that is to try, in one's own life, to exemplify man's humanity to man.”- Alan Paton (1903-1988)



Well Damn! Did ya think in this lifetime that, literally, an African-American would be nominated and is on his way to making double history???? This means I can pass away in this lifetime knowing that things can get better with a monumental victory like this...First Round-LOL

So, I blogged yesterday and today and was really flowing when I went to edit my blog and lost it twice. OOOOHHHHHH that just irritated me to no end and yes I got frustrated and left to treat myself to my favorite spot in Culver City, California, Emerald Thai Restaurant.

Ordered some red curry with eggplant, broccoli and shrimp and garlic rice!!! Then I was good to go but now without stopping at Baskin Robbins to satisfy my sweet tooth with a scoop of Jamoca Almond Fudge.

My friend called me to let me know it was official about Barack's nomination and I pray I won't be so excited that I wake up with more white spots in the morning! -LOL Vitiligo doesn't just spread under stress, it can manifest from all kinds of things. That would include me being so enthusiastic and blowing my Sprint minutes out the roof talking to all ya'll, that I have a night of insomnia and that's the part that would invite the white spots to come to the party-LOL

So,I am also excited about this blog and the direction I am going to take it in! Barack and I are going to make history!! He's going to be President and I am going to be (well, that I know of) the first African/other-American Woman to be on national/international television that has Vitiligo.

I will not hide it on my hands. HOwever!!, Girlfriend, will always wear make-up on my face. It's just pretty! A woman shouldn't leave home without it or at least keep the lip gloss on, but not too much-lol :-)

See I am going to have to talk to Barack about appointing me as a member of his cabinet for Americans with Disability who are proactive and making lemonade from lemons!!

Ciao,
Mai

accidentally erased my blog for the day-C u tomorrow :-(

I just wrote an amazing blog today and I accidentally erased it.

sorry i have no energy to do it again today. willtry tomorrow. but you did get new pics!

"Beauty in things exists in the mind which contemplates them."-David Hume (1711-1776)

New White Spots and a Changing Attitude

The white spots on my left lower leg have aggressively taken their place and show no signs of going away!! DAMNIT!! I look at these spots and just say to myself , "I just need more time, slow your roll!... I just need more time I am not ready for this to take over so quickly!!!"

Then I just breathe and look at another part of my body that is smooth, brown and all one complete color. A sigh of relief takes over and I begin to deeply place the thought of my new invasion of white spots into my " I don't want to accept this now or denial section."

Although this does not last for long, I go through this drama moment every time I see new white spots. It seems that the appearance of new spots becomes so consistent that I do lessen my complaints. THen I just move on for the day and think about this blog, the television tapings and my guests who inspire me and my vision for the future. Complaints over! My attitude changes and my energy is redisbursed.

Again, I have to say that the taping of " Turning WHite in Hollywood" taken from this blog, (August 18, 2008) is just getting better and better. My guest Jerome Malry an incredible classical pianist was candid and kind.

Jerome, is the most lovable and pleasant person to have a conversation with and his sense of humor truly added to this complicated topic. He was honest about being a world class performer who doesn't like being in crowds. However, on stage he is so focused in playing the piano and on stage that crowds don't affect him while playing but only when immersed in an actual crowd down from the stage. Very interesting.

Oh boy! can I relate. Jerome's vitiligo is very advanced and if and when mine becomes the same, I must admit my radiant personality may have a hard time keeping up with the reality of stares and whispers that will come my way.

Already, I am not comfortable with people staring at my mouth and hands but have adjusted to it; unless I notice the stare is too hard and too long, then I get agitated. BUt Jerome, admits to hating the disease and loving himself all in the same breath.

It really does make a person with vitiligo feel like they have multiple personalities because of the multiple skin pigment variations. Our moods can really change because of the environment and people whom can say or do things to affect our reactions.

BUt now that I think about it, isn't that true for anyone in any given situation? Whether you have lettuce in your teeth, a booger in your nose, bad breath, an acne breakout, a period spot on your skirt, a bunion sticking out of your shoe, yellow teeth......okay ya get my point right?

So anyway, Jerome is also a former patient of Dr. Grimes and although he now lives in Chicago (my home town) he really respects her medical opinion on this very complex disorder.

AND speaking of Dr. Grimes, we are still patiently praying for her appearance and attachment to this project because we know she dedicates her life to Vitiligo research and has a great relationship with her patients, some of which are children.

MPS is looking forward to Dr. Grimes and Robyn, former spokesperson and model, for the cosmetic brand Dermablend to be guests on the next show taping of "Turning White in Hollywood". Dr. Grimes is certainly the "Library of Congress" on vitiligo and Robyn can show many of us with white spots and skin blemishes on how to cover them up.

So, I will keep you informed. Have a great day and if you meet anyone who looks like they have vitiligo, please pass this blog on to them.

Ciao!
Maia

"If prejudice could reason it would dispel itself"- William Pickens

This Vitiligo thing

So, we taped the 2nd taping of "Turning White in Hollywood", at the Time Warner studios in Santa Monica, California. My guest was Jerome Malry a world renown classical pianist who lives with Vitiligo. He was so amazing and candid about his vitiligo, as he says, "freakish" image.

At the same time he also said, "I really love myself" and admits that having Vitiligo has been a a bittersweet battle. But, I must say Jerome Malry is truly winning and is a source of inspiration to me!! I know I am slow with adding the pics to go with the blog; charge it to my head not my heart! -LOL ( I will have the pics from the taping up by this Friday)

This blog started as a form of therapy for me allow it mentally to settle in to my reality that I am going to turn completely white. The funny thing about this is that, I absolutely love writing (when I am in the mood) because I speak just like I write (well for the most part-lol) and I don't have a problem writing about it. The issue for me is is when I wake up each day and see another damn white spot advancing on my body i.e, face, neck, legs breasts, feet)

The television idea for this blog was mine and now I have found that launching myself and my guests on to this platform of awareness about Vitiligo, has stirred many people to empowerment about learning more. It is moving friends, friends of friends, family, strangers and associates and so many others to be a guest or pursuade someone else to be a guest. WOW!!!

I did not realize that there are hundreds of thousands of people living with vitiligo of all races and ages who are very unhappy with this disorder. Many do NOT like talking about their feelings. BUt I am telling you all, that is about to change!!

It is my 100% determination to encourage and inspire many Americans and people from around the world with Vitiligo to LOVE, HONOR AND TRANSFORM THEIR PAIN AND ANGUISH INTO PRO ACTIVITY AND TO CULTIVATE THEIR LIFE PASSIONS!!

Let me be the one of a few who can stand up and say "I AM STILL HAPPY WITH WHO I AM AND LOVE ME UNCONDITIONALLY, I AM JUST GOING TO HAVE TO ADJUST TO BEING A DIFFERENT COLOR."

Look everyone, life flashes by in the blink of an eye. Whether you are wealthy, poor, healthy, terminally ill, confused or confident, all of us want to have a comfortable, happy life without too much suffering, overwhelming drama and want to be loved by someone for a long time (still prayng about that one-LOL).

Wouldn't you agree?

So, if you don't have vitiligo, chances are you got something else that's bothering you or that you are worrying about and "ya gonna have to get through it"!!


“One Day My Soul Just Opened Up”
-----Iyanla Vanzant

"So open up and let the pain out and the happiness in cause there ain't room for both unless you make room!!"--Maia

MPS is Boycotting the Movie "Tropic Thunder"

Let's get right to the point. If the casting agents wanted a black man for the film THERE ARE PLENTY OF BROTHAS THAT COULD HAVE PLAYED THE ROLE AND YOU WOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO PAINT THEM BROWN- THEY HAVE NATURALLY!!! i.e. the Rock, the Rock, the Rock -LOL ( ok I couldn't help myself!! :-)

So, while the media was allowing the developmentally challenged citizens to express their disappointed in "Tropic Thunder", nobody mentioned diddly squat about a white man being colored/painted brown to play a black man!!! Am I missing something here? If I am please assist me on this one.

I mean damn, if anything I could have used those make-up materials to paint in the missing brown pigment in my skin and still remain true to my ethnicity. :-) Come on Robert, I think you are an exceptional actor but u went totally down hill with very bad judgement on your part for this role. Hell, U could play a white man turning whiter by portraying a white man with vitiligo, now that I can see . -LOL (hey we need to talk about that!!)

Well I was wrong people of this Nation (some of us) are upset!

Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Tropic Thunder.’
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Here's an excerpt from an article:

Tropic Thunder movie is insulting, local reviewers say
by NANCY ESHELMAN, Of The Patriot-News
Thursday August 14, 2008, 9:04 PM


"The 'R' word is an insulting slur to people with intellectual disabilities," said Stephen H. Suroviec, executive director of The Arc of Pennsylvania. "People with intellectual disabilities have been the brunt of tasteless jokes and stereotypes and marginalized in society for too long."

The movie also insults gays, blacks, women, actors and fat people and features repeated slang references to body parts and body functions. "It was vulgar on many levels," said Carla Briggs, marketing and public relations director for the Arc of Pennsylvania, who accompanied our group to the theater. "I can see where all the hoopla's been coming from."

Read more in Friday's Patriot-News.
http://www.pennlive.com/

and see his pic at www.news.bostonherald.com

Anyhow, I might come back to this, gotta run to traffic court and YES I CAN DRIVE !! :-)

Rippin' and Runnin'

Greetings MPS Readers,

Well I have to tell you I have been really putting my energy into my MPS show taping coming up next Monday , August 18th. Sad to say that Dr. Grimes schedule will not permit her appearing on this segment. Good news is she supports the concept and will agree to fit us in as soon as our schedules can open up.

Gotta keep moving and I am meeting so many women with Vitiligo. I am now considering writing this blog in Spanish but not now. :-) What I have come to find out is that not many folks living with Vitiligo are that open and confident enough to share their personal stories of living with Vitiligo. And I am determined to affect that mindset by being the bridge between feeling like a victim to being empowered to affect change right where we are in our daily lives!

Look people, we cannot harp, complain and worry about what others think (well we can and live in despair and misery if we do so), We must surmount the negative and focus on what our inner beauty resonates to the Public when we are seen by so many eyes. Yes it is uncomfortable to be stared at and I say stare back and invite a conversation. "Hello, I noticed you were looking at me, have you ever seen this skin disorder before? Let me tell you about it, it is called Vitiligo..." Yup that is what I do, if it is so obvious and I can't take it anymore.

I simply turn lemons to lemonade and they walk away armored with more information than they had before they saw me. Then I turn them on to this blog!
Now that's part of my therapy and it has worked for me. I know not everybody is that engaging but hey that is what I do in the career of Entertainment Television and I end up meeting some really nice and interesting people.

Gotta run meeting my Dad for lunch.

Maia

Anxiety

Having anxiety today and the past few days. Seems like when it rains it tornadoes in my life, and somehow I am like the Energizer batteries "just keep going and going and going..." -lol

My producer is still in talks with Dr. Grimes and she's smiling our way so that is a great thing. Trying to catch up with her is like trying to see the Wiz of Oz and if you DON'T have an APPOINTMENT you might get stuck back at the bottom of the hill working on a Plan B map. Did I say Plan B? Must be thinking of Brad Pitt in my subconscious!!! -lol Congrats to him and babies mother Queen Angelina! Understand it was Vitro fertilization--AW!!! who the hell cares, if I could comeback right now as their baby I would. To hell with beating ;this pavement, but somebody's gotta to do it. LOL

Anyhow, I am bumping into a lot of people with Vitiligo and happened to be at my neighborhood VONS grocery store and met a manager who had it. Of course I get all happy to meet, yet another person that I can exchange stories of living with Vitiligo with. It's kind of like guys talking about sports; their worst and best teams or ladies discussing the best and worse places to shop or eat.

Instead, we discuss the stares, the astute to the ignorant questions and comments we get about our white spots. I do more laughing than crying. It gets down that old adage "make lemons into lemonade"!

Make it a beautiful day everyone!

"If prejudice could reason it would dispel itself"
- by a famous educator

Missing Maia?

My apologies!! I have been beating the pavement with my day gig and preparing for the taping of my pilot of this blog. What doesn't kill you will damn well make you stronger-Belive that! -lol

Lately, I know I have been stressed out, as my body sends me signals to slow the ==heck= down and sip on some green tea more often! Meaning, I have more and more white spot sprouting or rather taken over my hands and legs. Yes I am now looking like connect the darn dots.

The back of my left leg, has sprinkles of new white spots that look like little stars shining in the galaxy of Maia!-LOL It's Trippe to see and I will post a pic in a few days to show ya what I mean.

.....On to the taping of my blog to television pilot on August 18th. Praying hard that Dr. Grimes will be my very special guest to share medical info about Vitiligo! She's a busy lady and if that happens then I know I am doing something right...and if not, I AM STILL DOING SOMETHING RIGHT!!! -LOL :-)

Will blog later and remember to wear sunblock, absolutely no one is immune from sunburn!

"Be the change you wish to see"
- Mahatma Gandhi