Managing life and Staying Focused

......and how do you do that again please?? LOL For all the single woman out there who manage motherhood, work, personal hobbies, and still keep order without falling apart and having moments of "just Forget it" !! I thank you for sharing your stories all over the NET cause there are days that I just want to sit down under a waterfall on a hot island hmmm maybe under the Maya waterfall in Bali, Thailand and do absolutely NOTHING!!

After that moment passes, I look at my to do list and realize I forgot 5 more things to add to it! It's crazy when you have to make an appt with your phone to alarm you of the things u need to add to it to remind you again to get it done!! LOL

OMG! life is so funny sometimes and yet so stressful. AND I am always reminded when I need to slow down...when I see more of my honey brown pigment lost to Vitiligo and more white patches prevailing wherever they want to on my body.

There are days I want to totally de-pigment expeditiously with the help of modern meds like Michael Jackson did and go all white, BUT then I think of organically de-pigmenting like a slow death. (the "death" part is the loss of my brown and I want to wake up every morning to see parts of the original me still there! -lol Let it happen naturally and don't sweat the small stuff!! LOL yeah right.

I will continue to manage my daily life with a smile and passion to finish my book and to complete the 2 pilot projects that are my "babies" and my heart!! lol

the weather in Chicago is breaking and I can't wait to kiss summer and take a nap on the sand by the waterfront! (of course I have to wear sunblock 50 so I will not burn to a crisp)! :0

Rainy and Cold but My heart is still warm!

I have to admit it was a very strange, weird, rainy and cold day in Chicago. The pressure is so on and my body is responding by losing more pigment on my hands, legs and face. Although my face must know that it is a very sensitive area and if any white patches start really spreading I WILL BE LIVID! I AM NOT ready to turn completely white in my face while the rest of my body is taking it's moderate time! LOL

While I continue to manage multiple independent projects of my own creation, the weather today did not deter me from appointments and making it to the gym to release some endorphins!!

No matter the day the weather or my location, I always run into people I haven't seen in a while and miss or new people that add to my village of creativity and hope for a better humanity!

I saw an older man today with vitiligo on his hands and he looked at me and quickly turned his head away. So, I didn't do like I usually do and tap him to say hello and talk about vitiligo, rather, I left him alone in the rainy cold to cross the street in hopes to see him again to learn about his feelings on living with Vit!

Overwhelmed and Underpaid!!

do i have to xplain???? one thing is for sure, my vitiligo is spreading on the corner of my mouth and little kids are so cute when they think i have a milk patch on my mouth. most of the time i laugh but today i pouted!! lol there are days i am ok with this turning white thing and then as it spreads on my body, i think perhaps i am in some sort of quarterly denial about the fact that i am really losing my beautiful honey brown!!! LOL HOwever, my personality will always remain in tact and wonderful regardless of this physical transformation of pigment.

working so hard on my multiple projects and my freelancing could be a hellava lot better but i know the seeds i plant are going to blossom in such a rich and abundant garden that i am patient (well kind of!!).

season change brings some anxiety

Nothing new. but i will admit that my vitiligo is on a rampage on my hands and arms--meaning that it is spreading fast because i have been consumed and anxiety ridden with my life overall but pushing forward with this amazing book. think it is the season change and like everybody else that lives with the 4 seasons, the idea of a slushy, brutally cold and long winter is NOT sitting well with me. maybe the good thing about global warming is that there will be days , maybe, just maybe that will go up to the high 50's in the winter when its supposed to be 0degrees!!!

anybody out there noticed any new white patches that are distressing you with this vitiligo? just asking, its nice to know i am not alone in turning white! lol

nuthin much

in a self imposed lockdown this month in writing my book. its cold outside and i just am on a real disciplined and positive mode. sleepy now but am glad to be back on my blog and writing my book at same time!!

i got two more books after this one and i am done.

Hey I am back!

WOW it has been a minute and I am writing a book, free-lancing and paving my way to fulfill my purpose and mission in life...........

It's BEEN A WHILE!!

YUP, I KNOW!Boy have I been a busy bee, no wonder they named her Maia the Bee--LOL :-)

Life has been turned upside down and I have rolled with it and because of that, I am (u guessed it).....TURNING WHITER and not liking it at all.

Will post some pics from my last taping of a Pilot for television about my living with Vitiligo.

Hope this Pilot peeks Oprah's interest.......

A VICTORY!

This is so great! Today I interview for my television pilot/show, Dr. Pearl Grimes!!
Finally, this "Rock-Star" Dermatologist's schedule opened up. We will use this footage to educate and inform all of you living with Vitiligo and those that still don't understand what the heck it is!

So we will be looking forward to using that footage and am excited of what other great possibilities are in store with Dr. Grimes and our Pilot.

Be well,

Maia

MAXWELL Is Coming to Los Angeles

Well my girlfriends and gay guy friends have spent a whole lot of time texting, emailing and blabbing away at who is going to have front row seats and all access to Maxwell's long long long awaited concert tour!

Finally, I had to break it down to all my friends who still are very youthful and tell them, "The only person who has the "access" you want to Maxwell is his model GIRLFRIEND!!!" -LOL So, of course my reality check to them has limited my popularity (temporarily). :-) Everyone in LA practically is scrambling for outfits, good tickets and the info on the after after after party!!

OMG!! Why do I feel like I am 21 again? It is so funny to listen to al lthis hoopla , Maxwell is the soulful crooner that makes any woman want to dip in that bathtub with him from THAT video!! go to www.youtube.com and see what i am talking about if you haven't seen it in a while.

He truly is a talented brotha and I hope that he will be so calming and smooth to listen to that maybe some of my white patches might transform back to brown. It does happen when I am less stressed, eating right, exercising and listening to Maxwell!!--LOL

HOpe to get an interview with him to mention in my blog......................

It's Official!! Dr. Grimes Will Be Interviewed for a Segment of the show, "Turning White In Hollywood", (TWH)

Confucius said: "Nine thoughts to one word".


.....And my one word was "PLEASE??!!" my 9 thoughts were repetitive on how I would somehow lock in the renown Dr. Pearl E. Grimes to answer many medical questions concerning Vitiligo on the show. Now it's one thought "relief" and two words "Thank YOU"!!- LOL :-)

Well today it finally happened! Her efficient and very polite office Manager, delivered the news that Dr. Grimes agreed to be interviewed at her offices in Los Angeles, (Mid-Wilshire area).

A HUGE thank you to Mark and to Dr. Grimes! I know that many people living with Vitiligo (and those who never heard of it) will be educated. And many of her patients will appreciate hearing more of her knowledge on this complex condition.

Please log on to www.pearlgrimesmd.com to learn more about Dr. Pearl E. Grimes and of her contributions in research on Vitilgo and other skin disorders.

Invasion of the White Patches

"Humbleness, forgiveness, clarity and love are the dynamics of freedom. They are the foundations power."
-Gary Zukav



I woke up this morning with my head resting on the back of my hand. As I opened my eyes I noticed this large milky way white patch on my hand. It had pink tones on this very white patch.

On days like this, this disorder attempts to break down my psyche or ego about feeling and staying attractive. It humbles me and at the same time causes me to begin the mourning process of losing this beautiful brown golden skin tone my Daddy's gene gave me.


Funny, when my skin color ultimately transforms all white, I will actually look more related to my very light skinned blue-eyed mother! (she is African-American with I am sure a sprinkle of English and Native American) How ironic is that?
....and NO her light pigment has nothing to do with my Vitiligo. -lol

I am nervous about it spreading to my face and creating uneven white patches. By that time,I probably will seek the treatment to expedite the loss of my brown pigment so that the white patches will become even all over.

And you think you have life decisions to make?!!-lol

Maia

TWH Guests bringing hope to the idea....

"Turning white changes my color but doesn't change my personality. Living with Vitiligo allows me to educate and empower others as I manifest my highest potential, regardless of what I look like."

-Maia La Ville

This is the 7th anniversary of 911 and I hope all of us will take a silent moment today/tonight in honor of those that lost their lives and to their families.

Today was such a great day for the TWH project (Turning White in Hollywood). I finally reached J.D. Runnels, or rather he reached out to me and we had a great conversation about the project. I really hope J.D. and his wife will fly up to LA so JD can really give us his one on one perspective of living with Vitiligo. He sounds like a very interesting man with a diverse background.

To top that off my 1st guest on the show will be flying from Atlanta, Georgia to share her life experiences on the subject as well. Robin is writing a book and is the former spokesperson for Dermablend Cosmetics featured on the Guthy-Renker Infomercials. So, many of us are excited to hear her story of challenges and triumphs in living with Vitiligo.

I am still crossing my fingers for Dr. Grimes in hopes her schedule will free up for this next taping of TWH. We will see.

My other guest who is a superb celebrity make-up artist, Pam Farmer has been swamped with 15 hour days lately. Today she was providing make up for Jennifer Lewis -Disney and text me to say she wants to be a guest on the show. The project is getting it's buzz on and I really hope that the children truly benefit from all of these amazing people who either have vitiligo or are acquainted with those that do.


One step at a time but looks like they are becoming fast steps!!

Ciao,

Maia

Learning Curve

Yesterday my wonderful loving sister told me I need to make some changes to my blog. She said she loves my idea but that it needed some work. This is all so new to me and of course my feelings were hurt but she's good at what she does and so I listened, processed and digested. (Taking the action is coming though-lol)

It will take me a bit to transform the blog but I have alot a work to do and really am trying to get the gist of it. My sole intention is to share with you who I am, what I am about, my likes and dislikes, my honest feelings about turning white and all the going ons in my life, the things I find fascinating and things that just plain irritate me!-this is my intention.

I will continue to navigate the blog waters and hopefully as I grow, so will my blog and readers, all 200 of you. :-) I am not doing this to be popular, like I said it is therapy and the joy of sharing whether one of you reads it or just me! --LOL

It will definitely change and as I evolve with the TV show I am taping to pitch, everything else will evolve too.

Thanks for your interest and feel free to leave your constructive comments or compliments, either way it is all very helpful and fun!

happy day!

What Is Vitiligo? (lesson 1) :-)

Vitiligo
Signs and symptoms

Content provided by MayoClinic.com
The main sign of vitiligo is pigment loss that produces milky-white patches (depigmentation) on your skin. Other less common signs may include:

Premature whitening or graying of the hair on your scalp, eyelashes, eyebrows or beard
Loss of color in the tissues that line the inside of your mouth (mucous membranes)
Loss or change in color of the inner layer of your eye (retina)
Although any part of your body may be affected by vitiligo, depigmentation usually develops first on sun-exposed areas of your skin, such as your hands, feet, arms, face and lips. Although it can start at any age, vitiligo often first appears between the ages of 20 and 30. Vitiligo generally appears in one of three patterns:

Focal. Depigmentation is limited to one or a few areas of your body.
Segmental. Loss of skin color occurs on only one side of your body.
Generalized. Pigment loss is widespread across many parts your body.
The natural course of vitiligo is difficult to predict. Sometimes the patches stop forming without treatment. In other cases, pigment loss can involve most of the surface of your skin.

Vitiligo is a condition in which the skin loses its pigment cells (melanocytes). This results in white patches appearing on the skin in different areas of the body. Vitiligo can affect any part of the body.

......And so when you see people on the street with those white patches on their faces, hands, legs, feet, arms-you now know what it is. One thing important to know that Vitiligo is NOT contagious.

Maia

Little streams

Too Hot In LA

Quote today: "Little streams come together to form the great ocean."
-Nichiren Daishonin
13th Century Buddhist Monk


TIRed today cause the heat is a tad annoying and wish at times I could get on a jet and fly to my home town Chicago to run barefoot in the winter wonderland snow (that only happens a few times in the cold winters).

It gets so hot in Los Angeles it just makes me think of a cold chicago winter--Mind you this is not all the time!! -LOL

THE RNC is DOA

I am a Republican, a black, dyed in the wool Republican, and I never intend to belong to any other party than the party of freedom and progress.
-Frederick Douglass


Now, all I want to know is if back in his day the Republicans were like the Democrats are today? or Did my B in history just happen to appear angelically on my report card?

Cause if Mr. Frederick Douglass were alive right now he might have done a real fast and powerful switch to the Demo side right about now. And if not he would have been the brightest and the best darn Republican speaker in this day and age.--LOL

I can see him asking Sara Palin, "What in God's name did you not say to your child and how did that get pass you, Mrs. supposed to be VP??"

When I turn to the news and see the RNC folks, they just look dry, boring and are most white men in suits. THere seems to be no pulse just stiff cheers and energy that could never match the Americans filled with diversity who are soon to be the driving force behind making change and history in this place we call home.

On another note, I have noticed white patches spreading on my left hand the more I see the news about this RNC Puppet theater broadcast. I make myself stay abreast of both sides because that is the only way one knows how to counter the adversary is by learning about their tactics and sometimes lack thereof-lol

Anyhow, my vitiligo is affected whether I am totally excited i.e Barack Obama or if I am just irritated with John McCain and his cronies that I get worried and stressed out because......Heck you know why!!

I have been trying to get the manager of a popular grocery store who lives with Vitiligo to be a guest on my show "Turning White in Hollywood". I know she is shy and seems private, but I am determined to transform that as soon as possible. She is the sweetest and most sincere person have met in the professional world who has vitiligo at a moderate stage.

So, if you are reading this, you know who you are and I really want you to PLEASE, PLEASE STRONGLY CONSIDER BEING ON MY SHOW!! I am going to tell you like the politicians say when they are looking for donations. "Your contribution will make the world a better place!" Except your "Contribution will be your heartfelt experiences and feeling that others can benefit from and gain hope by you sharing it with us.

Be well,
Maia

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