Please don't speak

Sorry,
but
sometimes I get lost in your rich baritone
rumbling a wealth of words
that so effortlessly
injects this sick heart
with flutters and medicinal love
inflaming this never-ending hassle
between mind and heart
So next time,
please don't speak

© 2010 by R. Alana Brereton
Written for Three Word Wednesday

deception

fox
rather sly
trickling delicious words into my ears
with the love you imply

naively,
I lay aside reason 
as you feign virtue 
feeding me sugar crusted lies


© 2010 by R. Alana Brereton
Written for: Three Word Wednesday

new addition to the family

innocent&sweet. I wouldn't mind being a baby again

chic & The City

Live Band @ Union Square

Tilda Swinton @ Henri Bendel on 5th Ave, premiering her new fragrance 'Like This'

Refreshing with a twist of ginger.

http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/06/tilda_swintons_new_perfume_sme.html

and I loved the display

next, we landed @ the Puma Soccer party in Soho

for drinks and appetizers

and finished off the day with banana & nutella crêpes
 @ Bee's Cafe in Greenwich Village

nice atmosphere, great crêpes

She left them behind
the memories of passion
a blissful rendezvous
her eyes raced across the blood spotted knife
that began the heartache
and ended his life
a broken plate, the one they shared the night before
mirroring fragments of her broken heart
she loved him
now he lay a breathless corpse
her soul frailly mending from the wounds of pain
as she forgave the man who took her lover's life

© 2010 by R. Alana Brereton
Written for: Magpie Tales

Winding Sentiments

Dancing in a medley of emotions
my mind rides a roller coaster of feelings
stopping ever so often to linger
on the winding sentiments
frolicking across a vivid meadow of memories
encountering traces of a past too dear to erase

© 2010 by R. Alana Brereton
Written for: Three Word Wednesday

Photo Credit: Emotional Roller coaster

Love: Photo Impression

Tingling hairs waved down my arm
As his fingertips inched on my skin
Thousands of tiny electric shocks
Moving with the sound of my pounding heart
Beating like African drums
to the chant of a Nigerian tribe

"I Love You"
the words danced in the air
Reaching my ears daintily
In that moment, our souls became as one
the world froze
And everything was perfect

 © 2010 by R. Alana Brereton

The Best Things in Life Aren't Free

I found about this too good to be true free concert at South Street Seaport on June 15th from 6-9PM. For some reason I had in my head that it started at 5. So I rushed my brother and myself to the city, and by 5:22 we were making our way to an already large crowd of Drake fans.

By 5:23 I was irritated. The sun was  burning, there was no room to see, and the hundreds of surrounding teens were unbearable. But we stayed, only hoping for a turnaround.

By 5:46 we had inched close enough to get a peek of the stage through various means of tippy-toeing.

The crowd was growing bigger, the space tighter and there was not a single security guard in sight. I thought I had spotted a police officer earlier, who had now disappeared. Smart move on his behalf.

Around this time, two boys took it at their liberty to climb the roof of a kiosk to get a better view. With only a moment to bask in their genius, they were yelled at by surrounding fans to come down. Ninjasonik, now on the stage proceeded to grab the mic and scream profanities in an effort to calm the crowd. Twisted.

Moments later, two guys looking fresh out of Jersey Shore climbed the same kiosk roof, this time putting on a performance--fist pumps, pelvis thrust and all. They got some laughs, even a few cheers from the crowd who had been eagerly anticipating some form of entertainment for the past hour.

Two guys turned into five, then ten, then girls with mini skirts and cut-off shorts flashing the crowd ever so colorfully in their attempts to mount the kiosk.

One kiosk turned into two, then like monkeys people began climbing and leaping to get on top of kiosks. Too late into the game, stage crew become concerned. A stage personnel identical to Elmer Fudd attempted to calm the now amped crowd. His pleas were met with yells and frequent "STFUs"

That's when the plastic bottles began to fly in the air; pelted in all directions. First by the crowd below, in attempt to get their fellow primates off the kiosk roof. Then water, and finally a large cup of orange soda. This was followed by pushing and periodic crowd fights. At this time I was more than ready to go, and contemplating how I would get through the mob. (Luckily, the bottle throwing did not reach our section, and the fights were not directly in front of me) But still, the situation was only getting worse.

Even then, I thought maybe Drake would come out by now. Interrupting my thoughts came the foul smell of smoke. Just about everyone surrounding me began to light up cigarettes, blunts, and all the works. This time I was really o u t.

My brother and I cleaved a path through the reek of B.O. and bodies, and alas made our way to the streets. We opted to walk the Brooklyn Bridge home with a few friends and scram from the growing chaos of Drake fans.

Finally, a smart move.

While walking on the Brooklyn Bridge we saw a view of the Seaport; Colors and specks of people. Ambulances were rushing to the scene. I knew someone had gotten injured but my brother assured me that it was only protocol for the ambulance to be on standby.

False.

The next morning, I was informed by the News of a riot that broke out at South Street Seaport, canceling the concert only moments after we decided to leave.

Reminding me ever so gracefully that the best things in life aren't free.

People mounted on the kiosk. Notice the girl in shorts (far left) being pulled up.

                                  Our lovely view

               The first to climb the kiosk

News Article: http://blogs.villagevoice.com/music/archives/2010/06/riot_at_south_s.php

5 AM

Couldn't sleep, so I wrote a poem :)

There's a soothing peace about this hour

creeping towards 5 AM

the birds chant their songs ever so rhythmically

the sky is different now

not hovering over the earth as in the day

or like a darkened abyss as in the night

now, it possesses a warming tranquility

shades of salmon streaming through powder blue seas
with inviting sapphire eyes

it serenely watches over those who dare wake at this hour

carrying with it a calm air

the breeze seduces me

as it gently drifts through my windowsill

I am at peace

Superhero

Swoosh! His arms swooped around me

Mounting my body on a shoulder of Rock

With legs dangling in the thin air

I looked at the ground below

e v a n e s c e n t, vanishing

getting smaller and smaller and smaller

Until it no longer appeared

The burning city below me

was lackluster when compared

to the brilliant city before me

where I had now become an heir

Illustrious streets of gold 

resting under gates of pearls

incandescently I rested my head 

on my Super hero's robe

Copyright 2010 by R. Alana Brereton
word prompt: Superhero
Written for: Sunday Scribblings

Sex Trafficking: Fashion Gives Back Event

Two words that elicit a range of emotions: anger, pain, sympathy to name a few. But when we hear the words 'sex-trafficking' we tend to attach the words to foreign countries, never linking it to home. Sex trafficking is not something alien to the United States. While it is prevalent overseas, it remains an issue that exists in and affects America. Recent news reports that domestic child sex-trafficking is growing in the U.S. Children are increasingly becoming victims to pimps for whatever desperate reasons, and are ultimately left in a state of psychological and many times physical damage.

The Stats:

• 300,000 American kids are at risk for trafficking into the sex industry. (U.S. Dept of State)iii 
• There have been an estimated 100,000 to 150,000 sex slaves in the U.S. since 2001. 

Fashion gives back is a fashion show event to raise awareness about the rise of sex-trafficking in America and its urgency. The funds will help fight sex-trafficking of minors in the U.S.

Check it Out:

http://www.historystartsnow.org/

Get your tickets NOW!

The Facts:

"Sex trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such an act is under the age of 18 years. Enactment of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) made sex trafficking a serious violation of Federal law. Sex traffickers use a variety of methods to “condition” their victims including starvation, confinement, beatings, physical abuse, rape, gang rape, threats of violence to the victims and the victims’ families, forced drug use and the threat of shaming their victims by revealing their 

activities to their family and their families’ friends"

Taken from: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/trafficking/about/fact_sex.pdf 

21

Out on the Street...after a fun 21st celebration

What makes me a woman.

A poem my lovely mommy sent to me :)

What makes me weak? My fears.

What makes me whole? My God.

What keeps me standing? My faith.

What makes me compassionate? My selflessness.

What makes me honest? My integrity.

What sustains my mind? My quest for knowledge.

What teaches me all lessons? My mistakes.

What lift's my head high? My pride, not arrogance.

What if I can't go on? Not an option.

What makes me victorious? My courage to climb.

What makes me competent? My confidence .

What makes me sensual? My insatiable essence.

What makes me beautiful? My everything.

What makes me a woman? My heart .

Who says I need love? I do.

What empowers me? My God & Me.

Who am I? I AM A PROUD STRONG WOMAN!


Keep this going ladies.

Buy, Sell, Trade.

There they are, the piles and bags of clothes that you promised yourself you would wear. That top, those jeans, and the pairs of cute Steve Maddens that are just an inch too small. They've been sitting there for months, years even...In life, there comes a time when you need to smarten up and get rid of them!


Whether you choose to hand them down to a friend or donate them to the Salvation Army, let them go.
For the frugal and pennywise, there are alternatives to dumping your gently worn but outdated clothes.


Sell them.

I recently sold some clothes yesterday, and I plan to sell some more. Try it out.
Buffalo Exchange allows you to buy, sell, or trade. While they aren't extremely picky, the majority of clothes they accept are vintage.


http://www.buffaloexchange.com/

Think. Act. Be.

The mind is a powerful tool. Through it we can either edify our being and build ourselves up. Or, through negativity we can physically, emotionally, and mentally destroy ourselves. While the saying "Be Positive" is tons easier than actually being positive, the action begins with our thoughts. 


Thinking positive enables us to Act positively, and ultimately Become a positive person.


Think Positive. Act Positive. Be Positive.



Taken from: BeyondTheQuoteVideos

Shot

Photography by: Sam Estrella.
Check her out http://www.auroraphotography.webs.com/

#NP

I'm not twitter savy, but I do have a stale twitter account. Stale because its been there for over a year and for the most part #untouched.
The whole stalker vibe and "following" of twitter never grew on me. The idea of following every minute, minor occurrence in someone's day is kinda on the creeper side to me. Especially when these someones are not celebrities. But, I didn't come on here to rant about twitter. It's clearly 2:38 AM in NY and I'm awake, mildly insomniac like of me.


I have so much on my mind, from all angles and cracks of life that I'll leave unsaid.


Back to the point of this post. The title #NP refers to a tweet that I recently learned. It means Now Playing. In my mind, now playing are various shades of Lauryn Hill "Tell me who i have to be to get some reciprocity" from the song Ex-Factor.


Right now, I can relate.
#NP Ex-Factor by Lauryn Hill 

chic & The City

For the first 20 years of my life I never took interest to museums. They always involved the forced, long, strenuous field trips that required an entire day out, full of walking and usually heat. Inside was air conditioned, one perk, but filled with ancient sculptures and paintings from now dead people. In my young mind--Boring.

I don't know what triggered it (possibly the trip to Europe) but lately, I've developed a thirst for museums and the inspiration they birth. Yesterday I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Met) during the Museum mile festival. Although rushed, I was able to capture the history of the exhibits and the presence they unveil.


Featured pics: The Fountain of Life (First)
                     American Woman Exhibit: Bohemian Dress (Second)

I do

Some say the three most meaningful words are "I Love You". Three short words with so much power when put together. This past Saturday I realized that there are two short words, a total of three letters that can transform two separate lives. The infamous words, "I do". Three letters and two tiny words, but declaring so much; A commitment to a lifetime of togetherness and melding formerly separate lives into one distinct union.


Yes these words can be revoked and bro ken a part. But at the altar in front of the witnessing of onlookers, it stands for commitment to the sacred union of marriage.

B.Y.O.B. Bring Your Own Boba

This past Sunday I met up with some friends to go to a Filipino Fiesta. It took place on 30th and Madison. Refreshing. Fun. I'll do it again. Dollar lumpia (eggrolls), amazing mango flavored boba, swarms of people and a stage concert to liven up the events. Featuring a guest celebrity from the Philippines, Sarah Geronimo. The beautiful popstar princess, rallied cheers and screams from the crowd. Her stage presence and assumingly witty tagalog jokes had them chanting for more. Standing 5'9 amongst a crowd of 5'5 and under and the occassional 5'6, I had an advantage and almost effortlessly saw clear above the heads of the many fans in front of me.


Also featured was Filipino pop artist, actor, and model Christian Bautista.