Monday, January 31, 2011

Indentured Servant

What can you do?  What can you say?
You work like a slave for minimum wage.
Working two jobs but they pay you for one
And dare you to leave until all the work is done
You swallow your voice and smile nice and bright
And pray to God to give you the might
The will, the strength, to keep your lips zipped
Knowing your boss is an insane little trip
No, a vacation describes your boss to a tee
His mind is around the world; his head beneath the sea
He said no, but swore he said yes
Communication subpar and anyone’s guess
Every day you feel as if you’re walking on eggshells
Eight hours a day in your own little hell
Decreasing your benefits only because he can
And if you want your job, you won’t take a stand
Because there’s plenty of people willing to work for half the pay
And they’ll say, “thank you massa” for minimum wage
When you’re on your knees and feeling blessed that you’re employed
Brushing off the day’s nonsense even though you’re annoyed
Remember, it’s an employer’s market now, but this too shall pass
The season will change; this whipped economy won’t last
Employers will lose good workers for being an ass
While asking for bailouts and stashing their cash
Yes, tides will turn as they always do
Light will shine hard on the employers who betrayed you
They’ll have their turn of disdain and shame
But try very hard not to wish them any pain
For soon it will again be an employee’s market
And you’ll no longer be treated like an indentured servant




Saturday, January 29, 2011

Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone

My mother used to say to me that I was afraid of trying.  I was never afraid of trying.  I’ve always been afraid of failing and being completely humiliated.  I would have stepped out of my comfort zone long ago if I truly stopped putting so much stock into what other people thought.  It’s like the old childhood saying, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”  Honestly, it was just a few years ago when I realized that people are going to think what they want regardless of what I say or do.  So, I thought, I might as well do me and try not to worry about criticism.  Besides, if I don’t put myself out there, how will I ever know if I have what it takes to become a successful writer? 

My writing takes a soft approach to sensitive topics: racial issues, homosexuality, illegal immigration, and domestic abuse.  I use comedy to ease my way into topics so it’s not too abrasive.  In Seasons Change, I wrote about domestic abuse and a woman’s struggle to obtain joint custody of her child.  There is a twist that makes my novel different from say Enough, a moving starring Jennifer Lopez.  Loved that movie by the way!  Enough is about a beautiful waitress who falls in love with a rich businessman, after he bets a buddy that he can nail her.  They end up getting married and starting a family and then she finds out that he’s cheating on her.  She confronts her husband, and he’s basically like, “Hey, look at what I’m giving you… fancy house, financial security… shut up and deal with it.”  When she’s had enough, she tells her husband that she’s not going to tolerate the abuse, and then he gets physically violent.  She eventually leaves and the drama unfolds. 

Domestic Abuse is a great topic because it's more prevalent in our society than ever before.  Sure there has always been domestic abuse, but it was a topic that was kept, as my son says, on the DL (down low).  Now it’s on the front page news and streaming on the internet.  It’s not just something that happens to the poor or middleclass.  Rich and famous men and women are victims too.  And it’s not just about physical abuse.  Domestic abuse comes in many forms: infidelity, verbal, financial.  The protagonist in Season Change must face all these issues. 


Please visit the link and comment.  Asking for feedback is truly stepping out of my comfort zone.  Still, I'd like to hear (or read) your thoughts.

I’m hoping my novel will be released in the next couple of weeks.  I’ll definitely keep you posted. 

Finally, I want to thank you all for reading my blog and commenting.  I read all the comments and I appreciate the support. 

Peace and love,

~ Jennifer

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Life Is Good

I have so many things that I want to write about, yet I don’t know where to begin.  I brought in the New Years popping my fingers in a Soul Train line, and now on the twentieth day of January, I’ve got my head in my hands, wondering what the hell.  In retrospect, life is good.  I’m walking and talking, have a roof over my head, clothes on my back and food on the table.  And as far as I know, I’m in good physical condition.  Still, I feel desperate.  I don’t know if I’m going through a mid-life crisis or what.  I’m thinking about mortality.  At forty years old, I just signed up for 401k.  Jesus!  I may have to take part in the catch up program.  Where has all the time gone?  And as I say this, I can hear my grandmother say, “Time don’t stand still, baby,” in her Norlins (New Orleans) drawl, even though, it’s been fifteen years or more since I last heard her voice.  I don’t know how in the world my grandmother did it.  She raised seven kids with my grandfather, took care of the house, worked and had a social life without the privileges of modern day technology.  Let me tell you, ladies and gentlemen, it’s a full time job just keeping my house clean, and because I have a kid and a dog, forget about it!  I guess I’m lucky though.  Besides my dog, Happy, putting a hole in my brand new pleather couch and Christening every room when I adopted her, she hasn’t caused me too much trouble.  I think they had the bitch sedated when I saw her at Petco because she’s stark raving mad.  I can’t walk her without her losing her mind if she sees another dog, cat, squirrel, bird, tumbling piece of paper.  When other people see me coming, they immediately cross the street.  I’m now the crazy lady with the loony mutt.  Still, I love her, and my son loves her too.  To tell you the truth, if it wasn’t for him, she wouldn’t be here.  The day I came home to cushions flying in the air, I took off her tags.  I would have driven her to the woods and set her free, but my son looked at me and said, “Would you throw me out too if I tore up your new sofa?”  In the emotional state that I was in, I had to think about that for a second.  Can you imagine still paying for a couch that you have to put a cover over when company comes by?  It ain’t easy.  I’m so glad that I decided to write because already, I feel better.  My job stressed me out today, but I’m not at work, and I need to just let it go.  I should feel proud.  I submitted my final revision of my book today.  It’s only a matter of time that it’ll be published.  My son has been so patient with me, as I’ve been finishing up the last edits.  He reminds me everyday why I work so hard.  Life is good.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Seasons Change: Beast Man

Seasons Change: Beast Man: "By: Jennifer Lightburn I should have known the first time my cheek slammed against your handYou were a man transformed to a beastSlandered w..."

Beast Man

By: Jennifer Lightburn

I should have known the first time my cheek slammed against your hand
You were a man transformed to a beast
Slandered with carelessness, you beseeched malice and contempt upon my name
To friends, family, co-workers and strangers
Complete bullshi#
Yes, I am a woman who for a moment in time lost her mind – that is the truth
Prozac, Effexor and Zoloft were my best friend
A legalized crutch to hold one side up
For my momma was dead and I lost contact with God
Bottled up with fury from failure and disappointment
I lost my fortune
Forgotten about freewill and my natural strength from being a woman
Crippled by your tongue and your fist
I allowed myself to go tumbling and fumbling
And an angel took hold and held me until my nerves were calm
Showed me how I had the might to cease the madness in my life
Promised that she would not let me fall
Handcuffed I left you tumbling and fumbling before turning back to my old person
A credit card swipe away from bankruptcy but happy and free from your misery
Found love in the angel who helped me take a peak out of one eye
And I remembered how to pray
You liked the change and so you call me out my name
Tried to guilt me into coming back to your sad and pitiful life
“I knew it!” you yell, as if we were in the tenth grade
“She’s not allowed at our son’s basketball games”
You too must have forgotten about freewill
Who are you to say what can and cannot be in someone else’s private life
Say what you will when you see me
Let the beast come forth and be drop-kicked
With words of wisdom and defense
All because you cannot just let it be
Have to impose your havoc on my life
And you’re the one who couldn’t play nice
Still you point at me quoting scripture
I can understand your embarrassment
So please don’t worry about having to say hello or look in my direction
Because I’ll kindly look away
Just settle down beast man and understand
You lost your woman
Get over it

Monday, January 3, 2011

Seasons Change: Breaking Up With Domestic Abuse

Seasons Change: Breaking Up With Domestic Abuse: "Breaking up is hard to do and could be even more difficult when you’re the victim of domestic abuse. Sounds crazy? Yes, I know ..."

Breaking Up With Domestic Abuse

Breaking up is hard to do and could be even more difficult when you’re the victim of domestic abuse. 

Sounds crazy?  Yes, I know it does.  One would think that upon the first use of force, the wounded would pick up their pride and head for the door. 

No reason could justify staying, and one could only conjure the rationalization… pure insanity, be it temporary or long term. 

It’s down right foolish to take a whipping and then stay in the relationship, but people do it every day.

The main character in Seasons Change, Annette Styles, suffered from long term domestic abuse.  And it wasn’t until seeing the trauma in her son’s eyes… watching her child urinate in the hallway as he observed his father beating her on the kitchen floor that she stopped making excuses and saw the violence for what it was. 

Annette called her best friend, Monica Moses for consolation.  Though their lifestyles are light years apart, as Annette is a black woman, a minimum wage daycare provider, who is financially dependant, and who confesses to be “strictly dickly” and Monica is a white, gun-toting, lesbian, who owns a small business and is financially independent, there was no one else on earth that Annette would call when she couldn’t see past her own misery.
 
Monica comforts Annette with words of wisdom, breaking down data so Annette can swallow reality without regurgitating, but Monica can't sugar coat...  With unconditional love, she forced Annette to hear words that were harsh, and reminded her of stories that Annette tried desperately to forget about. 

Monica is indeed a force to be reckoned with, but on the inside she is as sweet as pumpkin pie.  Though, through no fault of her own, she had been on the opposite side of the law, Monica is a woman that believes in justice, even though, justice was not always fair. 

Annette takes the first step towards righteousness all by herself.  She left Montel.  But will her insecurity cause her to go back to him? 

You’ll have to read my book to see.  J  I’m crossing my fingers that Seasons Change will be published by the end of January 2011. 

If you’d like me to let you know when it’s on sale at Amazon.com, or if you’d like to comment on my blog, please send me an email.  jalightburn@comcast.net. 

Thank you for your support.  It means so much to me.

~ Jennifer Lightburn