This year, the flu was hardcore.  I was out for a full 7 days, and still a little wobbly.  I happen to get the flu on the tail end of my yearly bronchitis, so my struggling immune system was wiped out.

Lying in bed, there was nothing I wanted to do more than sleep.  And stop coughing.  I still had to make meetings, still had deadlines.  I took all kinds of over the counter remedies - TheraFlu, Nyquil, Tylenol, etc.  I was in total discomfort, achey and miserable.

All that medication did squat but knock me out for a few hours at a time.  The symptoms were mildly alleviated, but left me with a heavy, drugged up feeling.  I was restless, anxious, drowsy and sore.

The natural remedies - oil of oregano, using a neti pot, eating lots of veggies and drinking lots of water - those things made more of a difference than all the chemicals I had been pumping into my system for days.  Baths with epsom salt and eucalyptus oil were soothing and comforting.

Each year, I am more aware that the natural remedies do so much more for me than the chemicals in modern medicine.  Oil of oregano is a natural antibiotic, with lots of topical and internal uses.  The neti pot cleans out my sinuses more effectively than sinus sprays.

I’m keeping it as natural as I can these days.

Peace,
Melissa

Broadway.tv is up and running!  Please check out the features and reviews.  The video production was done by Multo.com.

Peace,
Melissa

Happy V Day!  Every day can be a loving, lovely love filled day if we choose it.

In little or large amounts, love is precious.  Savor what comes your way today and every day!

Peace and much love,
Melissa

I will be speaking at the the Fifth Annual Grassroots Media Conference at Hunter College on March 2!

Speaking Truth to Power: MEDIA JUSTICE IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Co-Sponsored by Film and Media Studies Department at Hunter College/CUNY
Hip-Hop Association Presents
The Womanhood LP (Learning Project) Interactive Lecture Series

About the NYC Grassroots Media Conference
For the past four years, we’ve come together to explore the political dimensions of media and how it shapes our lives. By developing relationships between community and media organizations, the NYC Grassroots Media Coalition is working to re-imagine issues of access to, control of, and power over our media system. That means defining our struggle as a struggle for Media Justice.

W.A.R. (Women Armed and Ready)!:Defining the Reel Images of Women in Hip-Hop
This is a 90-minute candid interactive workshop focusing on the role media plays in the portrayal of women in Hip-Hop, and the issues and effects that women have to deal with as a result. From Queens to whores, the roles of women have changed dramatically over the last 30 years. From misogyny to hypersexual behavior, a whole generation of young men and women have been desensitized and programmed through negative media images. It’s time to confront the media outlets, and step up as media-makers and concerned citizens, and take control of our images.  Redefine our selves and create a new perspective of women. The participants will discuss how their work addresses these issues and how it is creating media justice. They will share clips of their projects. (more…)

The Art of Love and Struggle will be screening at the Pan African Arts and Film Festival 02/11/2008 - 1:10pm, 02/13/2008 - 10:20pm, in Los Angeles, at the AMC Magic Johnson Crenshaw 15, 4020 Marlton Avenue.

Purchase tickets here!

Please do come out and support this fantastic film, which was a huge labor of love, celebrating these women and their struggle to make art.

Peace,
Melissa