Destiny, Sound Sculptress: Destiny Diary

returning to a state of intense focus- the music requires it/ I require it

me & cristwell going through some old papers and found my campfire girl card from 1971 Compton! Incredible memories of fun and marshmellows and learning to dance and funny uniforms family and fun and more fun...

Nikki Sellers became an Ancestor at 1:30am est on Thursday January 14, 2010.

Beautiful being--- she never let on that she was still sick-- she told us she was in remission and well. 3 days before she died an e-mail as a blast from her Mother.'Nikki is very sick' Ms Sellers wrote. Now Nikki is gone. Iam NOT liking this! Time for us to SPEAK UP WHEN WE NEED HELP!!!

action speaks the reality of someones being. saying speaking is it lying to others and self. worshipping others and then they fail to come up o what we believed them to be (did we even ask them before we put them on a pedastal???) hmm...

Kwaanza. A way of living. Principles establised developed to assist individuals and the community collective at large to interact with each other that allows for positive development and self sustainment. Every year (for over 20/ 30 years) created by Maulang Karanga, KWAANZA Celebrations take place nationally and internationally for 7 days beginning the day after Christmas! Pouring libations and Ancestor honoring, lighting of the Kinara (a candle for each day), explanation of the KWAANZA principles, African Dancing & Drumming-- and JAZZZ!! And GREAT food that the community brings to share with each other. Now-- time to BREATHE life into the KWAANZA Principles by living them each day. Habri Gani???

Question:

is it possible to listen with one's mouth open and speaking??????

it was getting way outta hand. needed to do it different. we gave it back. we needed to MAKE THAT CHANGE 'CAUSE IT WASN"T THAT SERIOUS!!!
so. when you see us drivin' down the street in an 'un new vehicle' and STILL SERVING THROUGH SOUND WITH A FIERCER CONVICTION-- it's cause we have eliminated the unnecessary monetary distraction.
can you dig it? i knew that you could.

peace & appreciation
d

Our community has truly become our FAMILY!!! More on this soon
Y'all know who you are and I LOVE YOU MUCH!!

yesterday we hit with Oaktown Jazz Workshop at Church of the Living God supporting an upcoming and very talent vocalist! It was fun and in the moment and just felt good to be supporting someone with their dream.

Destiny

Thanksgiving soo fun! Enjoying the cameradiere of extended family (yes, our friends are our FAMILY) and delicious food! (Nett the sweet potatoe pie YUMMMM and Giovanna the pomegrant fetta cheese salad DELICIOUS!!)
Life is good!!

Big thanks to all the musicians and peformers , friends/ family and fans that came out to 'The SHortest Way Home: From Celtic to Coltrane'. The musicianship was stellar, the messages and kudos sweet insightful and fun! LOVE FLOWED FROM EVERYONE!!! Get ready. Coming again Spring 2010!

Peace & Appreciation

Destiny

2 morrows my birthday-- i'm really excited-- i'm having this incredible inner awareness. it's wonderful!

my hostbaby site underwent some changes and now trying to figure out HOW TO POST NEW DATES TO THE CALENDAR PAGE!!!
until i do--- you all will receive facebook announcements for my dates.

thank you for your patience-- i am NOT slow/ just very busy (smile)

multi tasking-- slow down to speed up!

Musashi/ samurai warrior wrote in 'the book of five rings',
'The True Warrior is unflinching in his devotion to studying his craft'.
Unflinching-- studying with out inner question or quarrell.
I like this.

'we don't die from old age, we die from neglect.'

Jack La Lanne, Athelete, 93 years old

truth: turned off internet at house--- need to use the funds in other ways--- so-- here I am at the Oakland Public Library using free wi fi.

gotta do it/ and actually enjoying it!

peace & appreciation,
d

the appearance of a challenged economy have brought out some of the most humane random acts of kindness. folk now let us know they're going to the market and would we like them to pick something up for us/ no worries if your money's short pay what you can when you can or 'i got this'.
overheard a conversation where one persons parent has severe health challenges and burst into tears as they recounted how stressed they were-- and received a hug from a stranger and a promise of prayer for the family.

random acts???? no right on time

peace7appreciation,
d

The Chinese letters for 'chaos' also have the word 'opportunity' within them. The time i am experienceing in this moment somedays looks like chaos, yet i am finding the most opportunity to CREATE as i desire stronger than ever.

yesterday i somefriend said to me'if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life'- the feeling in this made me feel even more connected to myself and my music. perhaps we can go so deep to say, if you love who you are you'll never be friendless or lonely'.

making choices/ trusting/ growing/ forgiving/ living/
wisdom

· Memorial services
- Monday, January 5, 2009, 11:00AM, Oakland Marriott Convention
Center, 1001 Broadway in downtown Oakland. In lieu of
flowers, the Howell family has asked that contributions be made to the
Dr. C. Diane Howell Memorial Fund at Alta Alliance Bank, located at
1951 Webster Street in Oakland. To make contributions to the memorial
fund (Account 1800102992); contact Alta Alliance Bank at (510)
899-7500. For up to date information about memorial services and
other activities planned in honor of Dr. C. Diane Howell, please visit
the Black Expo website at http://blackexpoltd.com.




Obituary




Dr. C. (Cecelia) Diane Howell, publisher
of Black Business Listings newspaper, producer of Black Expo,
Ltd., and Executive Director of the non-profit, SEEDS
(Self-Empowerment though Education, Entrepreneurship, and DreamS),
passed away on Christmas Eve at Kaiser Hospital in Oakland from
complications from pneumonia. She was 58 years old.
Renowned throughout the Oakland/San
Francisco Bay Area for her steadfast commitment to the African
American community, Dr. Howell used Black Business Listings,
Black Expo, and SEEDS as her platform on which to advocate on behalf
of African American businesses. A social and political
powerbroker in her own right, Dr. Howell used her multifaceted
enterprise to promote issues of economic empowerment, education
access, and political and social activism, in every way
conceivable.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Howell
was born on July 20, 1950 to Doris K. Howell and the late William P.
Howell. She was baptized at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in
Washington, DC, and was confirmed at St. Edmond's Episcopal Church
in Chicago. Ever active in her faith community, Dr. Howell was
been longstanding member of the Oakland-based East Bay Church of
Religious Science, under the leadership of her spiritual mentor, Rev.
Dr. Elouise Oliver.
A graduate of Chicago's Hyde Park High
School, Dr. Howell earned her B.A. degree in psychology from Barnard
College, Columbia University. She went on to pursue graduate
studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where she completed
her Ph.D. in clinical psychology.
A licensed clinical psychologist, Dr.
Howell worked as a staff psychologist at UC Berkeley upon completion
of graduate school. She also operated a private practice for
more than fifteen years. Even after deciding to devote her
energies to full-time publishing, Howell remained active in her
profession. She saw clients on an ad-hoc basis and remained in
good standing with the California Board of Psychology.
Dr. Howell was active with the Bay Area
Association of Black Psychologists for many years and was elected
president of the association in 1983. Recognizing the need to
increase the visibility of African American psychologists in the Bay
Area, she published the association's first newsletter, Black
Perspectives in 1984.
Through her work in her profession and in
various social and political circles, Dr. Howell recognized the need
to better promote African American businesses in the Oakland San
Francisco Bay Area. Doing her part to fill this void, Howell
launched Black Business Listings (BBL) newspaper from her
personal computer on her dining room table. With no staff and no
capital reserves, Dr. Howell published first edition of Black
Business Listings (BBL) in newsprint in 1989.
Initially published bi-monthly, Dr. Howell began publishing BBL
10 times a year in 1990. A short-lived Southern California
edition of BBL was in print from 1991 to 1993. She was
editor and publisher of BBL for almost twenty years.
From 1991 to 1996, Dr. Howell served as
the local coordinator for Black Expo USA. When the organizers
took Oakland off of its national schedule, Dr. Howell took over as
producer of the Oakland Black Expo in 1997. It was from here
that her entrepreneurship and influence reached unprecedented levels.
Under Dr. Howell's leadership, Oakland's Black Expo attracted
long-standing partnerships with local, regional, and national
corporations and organizations. These have included Citibank,
Wells Fargo, Comcast, State Farm, Chevron, Kaiser Permanente,
Macy's, KBLX, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Safeway, BART, County
of Alameda, and the Port of Oakland, among many others.
In 1995, Dr. Howell expanded the Black
Expo to include the annual African American Excellence in Business
Awards and Scholarship Gala. Over the years, this program has
recognized the accomplishments of hundreds of small businesses,
corporations, political leaders, and everyday people making a
difference in their communities. A steadfast supporter and
advocate of educational opportunities for young people, Howell
established the non-profit, SEEDS (Self-Empowerment though Education,
Entrepreneurship, and DreamS) in 2000. Since its inception,
SEEDS has awarded more than $25,000 in scholarships supporting the
educational aspirations of local youth.
Oakland Mayor Ronald V. Dellums
was among many who paid tribute to Dr. Howell upon learning of her
passing. "I am deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. C. Diane
Howell who meant so much to our community as a leader, friend and
pioneer of social entrepreneurship," said Dellums. "She was
a tireless advocate for the African American community and small
business owners. Dr. Howell empowered the community and helped
all whom she touched to realize their potential. We shared a
common bond through our training as psychologists and often times
joined in establishing values and principles which served a moral
purpose for the betterment of our community."




Congresswoman Barbara Lee
(D-California), who was a regular columnist in BBL, paid
tribute to Dr. Howell as a "beacon of optimism and hope,
particularly for the owners of minority businesses throughout the Bay
Area." Lee also stated, "Dr. Howell was a great friend and
human being. I was proud to call her my sister, and I will miss her
kindness, wise counsel and her love. My thoughts and prayers are with
her family, her staff, and those in the business community whose lives
were enriched by Dr. Howell's unwavering commitment to her
community. She will be missed terribly by all who knew
her."




Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson
(District 5) mourns the loss of Dr. Howell stating, "Dr. C.
Dianne Howell sacrificed her professional career to create the Black
Business Listing. The newspaper is an essential communication vehicle
for those in the African American business, educational and social
communities. She will always be in my prayers."




Bob Butler, President, Bay Area
Association of Black Journalists states, "C. Diane Howell was a
tireless champion for the African American business community. Her
Black Business Listings and Black Expo Trade Fair were premier events
for anyone wanting to conduct business in the Black community. The Bay
Area Black Journalists Association mourns Howell's passing. She is a
treasure and will be sorely missed.
Over the course of her illustrious
career, Dr. Howell has been recognized by numerous organizations.
The most recent of these include the Social Entrepreneur award from
the National Association of Women Business Owners, the Local Hero
Award from KQED, the 2008 Community Award from 100 Black Men of the
Bay Area, a Citation of Achievement from the Oakland City Council, and
the Woman of the Year Award by Sacramento's Omega Psi Phi
Fraternity. Dr. Howell will be honored posthumously with the
Madam C. J. Walker Award from the Oakland-Bay Area Chapter of the
National Coalition of 100 Black Women in 2009.




Howell is survived by her mother, Doris
K. Howell; her sister, Lynda K. Middleton; her brother William P.
Howell, Jr. and his wife Rhonda; one nephew, William P. Howell, III;
and a niece, Shawn Wilkins and her husband, Randall. All are
residents of Chicago.

feeling good about the coming year-- desire is connected with design and ready to move beyond reflection into action. MORE MUSIC/ stepping up the calibre expanding the possibilities. Travel? Yes indeed! Around the globe and back--sharing the sonic ideas with my international family. Re-affirming the focus into lazer sharp intention. Mission: POSSIBLE
Power Peace
Me

HOPE ON THE HORIZON
body A new day dawns her in the US of A~~

On Tuesday, 20 January 2009 Barack Hussien Obama will officially step
into the White House as the 44th President of the United States of
America-- YES WE CAN!
I see HOPE ON THE HORIZON AND A NEW DAY DAWNS!

2008 has had it's share of challenges and incredible loss of great
people. New Ancestors that we miss and love so much:
Miriam Makeba
Isacc Hayes
Prince La Sha'
Bernie Mac
Paul Newman
and so many others who did their best to serve the world community
through laughter, song, in love We thank you and will remember you
always.

We move forward completing 2008 wiser, and possibly humbler and ready
to take on 'A new spirit of service: A new spirit of sacrifice' a
request from our PREZ. I know we can-- we are stronger than we've
allowed ourselves to believe.

I've have a few dates coming up and I would love to see you there. I
understand, the money might be truly tight (yes! I felt the crunch as
well) I'd love to see you out enjoying my music-- but if you can't
make it send me a thought and a prayer of love-- I'll feel that and
pluck a string of love for you. My sistah friend Ricki Bb sings ' You
pray for me, and I'll pray for you'
I promise

"Being is Believing" This came to me while on tour in Los Angeles. I had a tai chi chuan lesson with Shifu Ade Omolade-- after session, we began talking about spirituality & religion and how it differs here in the West. She said ' The West analyzes the Deity or the religion or spirituality. The East becomes ONE with the Deity/ religion/ spirituality.' Later, I listened to lecture on and this same thought emerged around trancendence and immanence. The lecturer stated: 'The trancedencent thought views the deity as 'out there/ somewhere' , however, the immanence/ immanent thought regards the deity as with in them selves, ever present. (see dictionary for immanent, immanence). Then I get (??) the thought 'Being is Believing' --- becoming the thing (ie, deity, experience, desired good).
I BE, therefore I AM. Could it be that if I BE the noun I AM IT?????
Just a little sumtin to tumble around in dat cranium of yourn!!

Loving US!

Destiny