U-MELENI: MY DIARY

Beautiful People,

I thank you for your continued support. I have recieved so many encouraging emails of late which have timely as I am at a crossroads in my life. I need a change. A BIG ONE and the ball is already in motion. I haven't written in a while, too busy living, dreaming, basking in the new love and the joy of finally finding my life partner.

Oh before I forget. I want you all to know that I am no longer involved in the play " IN THE CONTINUUM" I had mentioned in July. Timing was not right and my energy and soul was not aligned so I helped in the early stages of rehearsals especially as it relates to the shona words etc. But I will be watching the play so i hope you come out and support. AIDS is dead serious and we have got to speak about and do something. So details http://www.bostontheatrescene.com/season/production.aspx?id=6332&src=t

ON another note I will be performing in NY at the Vagina Festival in TimesSquares in October and I am very excited about the opportunity to share the stage with so many talented women whose arts speaks about empowering women body and soul.

http://www.vaginafestival.com/

On the work front, change gone come. I want to be able to use my creativity to the fullest for youth and so i am putting it out to the universe that it shall be.And the money will flow. October will be an exciting month full of newness is my prediction.

I hope you are all well and keep the love flowing and keep on growing.

One love
U-Meleni

These days I am singing sade songs, smiling all day and generally amazed at how my life has changed. I asked for love and God gave him to me. A beautiful perfect person to hold my hand, laugh at my jokes, eat with , be goofy with....my partner in crime. MY king. And every day I am grateful for this and cannot wait for the more.

Creatively in about 3 weeks I will embark on a journey where I will be flexing my acting muscles again except this time on stage. So watch out for me in Sept 2008 in Boston going to be at the Boston Center of the Arts....i am going to be in a play : IN the Continum" about 2 women who find out that are HIV positive....AIDs is dead serious y'all. As a health educator its very important for me to tell y'all to be tested, be safe.

I am happy to be involved in a project where we can begin to truly dialogue especially in the african community. WE need to remove the stigma , get real and deal with this disease head on.

One love

u

Beautiful People..

If you are in the North East ( USA) like me you are feeling the HEAT. Now generally I don't mind as far as I am concerned the hotter the better, less nonsense to wear and one can always go swimming!
Keep cool though, don't want you guys fainting from heat exhaustion.

Its funny my last entry the last line was about how I am ready for love..and well the universe, GOD gave it to me. I am so thankful. It was right under my nose all along. Isn't that how it always works. Being loved for who you are AS IS is the greatest thing of all. Its so simple....... SO get out there...ask GOD , ther universe, Buddha whoever you believe in for what you want, meditate, do and see it bloom.

....I am SOOO LOVING my life. Amidst as Bob Marley would say..." ..so much trouble in the world" I have managed to find the me-ness of ME again. I have been re-introduced to the girl I once was, and she is AMAZING! I am having so much fun, taking risks everyday, learning, growing , changing. The Book " The Secret" talks of being careful what you think, living with intention and that the Universe will give you the desires of your heart. SO thanks Universe.......and I am also asking for Peace, for freedom of the democractic process in my country, for access to health, education, housing and employment for all......

And I am also asking for Love. I am ready.

......last nite was much fun. My friends and I attendeda cool networking event at 28 degrees which was successful in my eyes. Just the right mix of men. ( more than women) which is HUGE as most places there are 5 million women and 6 guys and they are all related me so thats not fun!!!(LOL!!!)

Anyway what I really enjoyed was meeting folks and realizing that had it not been for this event, this punctuated space we may have never met, We may have never said Hello or shared our love of music, we may never had compared notes on which wine we prefer red or white, or why we followed our career path, our family tapestry or how interesting/ or not Boston is. How lovely to be able to collide effortlessly with someone. For the record....how could you not appreciate KEM you kow who you are!!!!(just playin'!!!

Afterwards we dined at BEEHIVE
www.beehiveboston.com
and I had the Salmon which was pretty good. I could have cooked it too at home.......the company and conversation was great, the music interesting. Time spent. Priceless! And we were joined by my other cool friends " the Nigerian Boys" i affectionately call them who are such wonderful funny guys.

Thankfully we got a ride home which was great since i get nervous sometimes about cabs. Thanks guys. I met a really nice man....and to him..thanks for the drink, the laughter. I hope i see you again,have fun in Puerto Rico.

To my girl " S" you rock!

So the life changing part is.......I think I may be ready to perform again, to really share with you. I am yearning for the mic....I think I realized that when I performed impromptu as usual with the WIDAYAH Band in Brooklyn last Friday at SAGE. I think I am finding my muse....in a blink of an eye.

Thanks always for the love....xxxoooo

P/S....I think I may have written this for you but you will never know coz I won't ever tell you.

BLINK
in the blink of an eye
your life can change
you can collide effortlessly with someone
smile
laugh
be intoxicated by their thoughts.
familiarize yourself with the texture of their voice
memorize the detailed tenderness of their hands.....
in the blink of an eye
you can realize you have missed someone being in your life
you wonder where this burst of deliciousness has been
moments before
you may have not even dared speak in the streets
and yet
there you are
harmonious sitting across each-other.
Amen.

So again its been a while since I last wrote to let you know whats been going on in my life. It has been full of challenges, tears, laughter, joy, music, good food, good wine, good friends, dancing, .....
But i have made it by God's grace...as usual I am hoping you are all well and continue to be bathed in god's love.

I have been reading A NEW EARTH
http://www.eckharttolle.com/

I have found it to be a great read...and at the same time I picked up a copy of Zane's book. I have seen some of the students I teach reading them ( I teach high schoo) and decided to see what all the fuss was about....needless to say she writes some very Erotic stuff...hmmmmmm,,,,,adolescence sure ain't what it used to be like!!LOL

I have also been actually exploring more of my city. I live in Boston. So some of my hot spots are...( and they didn't pay me to sing their praises...!!) I would not be morally opposed if they offered me gift certificates or allowed me to gig there with my band.

http://www.28degrees-boston.com/flash.html

http://www.red-fez.com/

http://www.icarusrestaurant.com/

http://www.newsboston.com/

Where i LOVE To go buy books, eat and write sometimes Trident Bookstore.

and finally my favorite wine store in JP BLANCHARDS.The staff are wonderful and always have the BEST advice...i had a Malbec wine 2006 that literally changed my life a few weeks ago!!!

Have a fabulous week ...

OH and the waiting part...I am being patient but sure would be nice to fall in love again...........so if you're listening God, Holla until then thanks for giving me the greatest, coolest, ,funnest, most supportive friends and fans!

......haven't felt like writing much. Nor have I felt like sharing what I have been working on. Selfish days! Am feeling really GREAT ..had a wonderful week-end, met some amazing people.....i feel like I am on the brink of finding something I have been yearning for. I am grateful for being alive, I am worried about things at home in Zimbabwe.What it will mean if he wins again!The world seems to be going through so many things and I am fighting to concentrate on the good coz i know and you know we want more of that don't we?

I am trying to let go of some things that are not adding to my life, trying to finally release the triffling folks that keep hanging around trying to steal my SUn not recognizing my brilliance...i am winning this battle!!!!

I am so thankful for my health, my home, my family ( new and old) am an Auntie now....phew! the pressures off on me now.

I am not feeling the clock tick..hell i might be an advanced human model that doesn't come with that!!!LOL Besides the world can only handle one of me at this point!

Stay cool everyone....xxxxoh and love is in the air!

so it has been pretty interesting so far in this New Year. Many things are sprouting. I enjoyed ushering the New Year with a few close friends and family...good times, good drinks, laughing and talking.

I am in DC at the moment. Spending time with family. Its so rude of me.,..I realized that have not been here since May 2003. My Uncle rocks..he has one of the coolest places to shop for your appartment, house or dorm, If you want authentic african art you need to see this place if you live in DC.

Its called GOOD TO GO THRIFT & ANTIQUE store 502 Kennedy Street, NW. DC.

I spend the day there on Thursday " working " at the store and shopping. Lets juts say that I found some amazing Lord and Taylor shoes,jewellery and of course BOOKS.( you know how much I love to read!!

Do you guys know Susan l. Taylor, she writes for Essence and I think she is the Editor...man does she write powerful stuff about love of its power.

Anyway I went to this club LOVE last night. ALl on my own ( was very proud of myself) and it was cool. Met lots of nice folks and was really nice seeing so many cuties too!!!

Anyway got home safe and am planning on having another cool time.

Hope this year brings you joy and prosperity...

One love

I haven't felt much like writing of late. Too busy worrying, crying, laughing, thinking, achieving, being.ME

SO much has happened. So much has changed and some has stayed the same,

I lost something I cared about very deeply. I had believed that this time it could be different but it wasn't my time to shine. But i will always bask in the way I felt in their presence....i admit that it was nice to be looked at and loved that way even though it was brief. My true King is coming.

A miracle happened to me the other day. So i donated my car ( after it was eating a lot of my $) and have been using the train and the subway since the spring. Its not bad an adjustment but freeing in a way. I mean for one I am trying tosave the planet but not contributing gas emissions...but will see how long being carless lasts. I must say that I have been reading a lot en route to work and thats always a good thing. I LOVE to read!

Anyway back to the miracle..so I was running for the bus the other morning..( right outside my condo) and the rude bus driver left me.!!!! He could see very clearly that i was running as fast i could to the bus stop but seriously HELLO there was black ice coz the whole snow situtaion! Anyhow so I had to call work to say I would late ,try and call a cab, etc.Then from somewhere I saw a white car( interesting choice right GOD was it a sign?) and there was 3 women ( in lieu of three wise men) and they were yelling to me to come to the car" Miss, miss we saw you missed the bus , if you trust us we will give you a ride". I threw caution to the wind..I mean after all what would 3 women in their 50's do to me ... and i am rather deadly with my high boots on!!!LOL . They were bearing smiles....

SO i lugged my bags and got it. They saved me. IT turned out they were Jehovah's witnesses , and no they didn't try to convert me, we just had some light talk of weather and family, the origins of my name etc. What a blessing...I do believe that God put them in my path....this was Dec 24th and I was going home after work outside of Boston. Ah..nothing like miracles when you least expect them! Christmas was nice...took photos and may put some up later....my sisters will kill me! LOL. Was nice to be with some of my family though the ones in Zimbabwe I miss terribly.Did talk to my mum though and well all is well with the world when I speak to her. She is my rock, my raison d'etre.

And now i am looking towards 2008.I am moving out of Boston. Going to someplace different yet close enough to Boston and airport so can escape.

I will be releasing my new CD sometime in 2008, and other things.......

So am back from a soul vacation. A secret undisclosed place I go to soothe myself and surround myself w/ love and my beloved. There are some feelings that MUST be shared but there are some people in my life at this point I choose to hold secret and close. But I can say that I have found someone that brings me joy and I feel blessed.

My time away gave me some perspective. I need to go some other where, and sprout. I need to leave MA. I am dying inside and out. I can't breathe.Anymore.

Artistically speaking I feel...weird sometimes. Have an album ready to record but its to hard to decide when and how to do it. Its to expensive, too many hats I am wearing. I need a staff. I need a manager, I need a hype person, photographer etc.,..and am grateful for ALL the people in my life to this point who have these and more roles in mmy pursuit of the ARt in ME. I am just feeling a little......i can't explain.

SOOOO many ideas, concepts that are leaking out to me...am fighting to contain them. They cannot be born here.There is not enough room.

........I will be in NY this week-end so will hopefully see some of you..and no doubt be in BROOKLYN as always. I look 4ward to it.

Sadly i am reminded of the fragility of life. My Aunt passed away this week-end, my cousin's mother I don't remember meeting her. Or if I do was long ago when I was young.But that doesn't stop the pain I feel, the loss. I want to be there for my cousin and hold his pain in my hands. I am grafeful that his girlfriend and friends are around for him. God rest aunties soul.

Things like this remind me that tomorrow is not promsied, and me being miles away for so many I love hurts at times. I wonder what exactly I am doing in this foreign land?

Last nite we celebrated one of my friends birthdays. It was a joyous occassion mingled with sadness I feel. I met some wonderful brilliant and talented people last nite that I look forward to building with.

Whereever you are, whoever is reading this too. Hug your kids, your man, woman, your pet even. Call a long lost friend. Forgive someone. Share your time coz you never know the expiration date of this life. Savor the moments, the sunrises and sunsets. breath. And love...remember to love hard and often even when it hurts. Coz what is a life w/out it!

So i am about to go out and do the same. My arms are open WIDE to receive LOve and BLessings....

P/s
Saturday..August 4..i facilitated a workshop titled" writing for the soul" at the PENS OF POWER Conference at Simmons College that went over really well with the talented young women! I want to thank them for their words that inspired me!!! Truly I am keenly aware that my calling is this. Facilitating, healing, truth, sharing my words etc. ....thanks be to the Most High

Its so easy when things are going badly to sit and think negative thoughts. But I had found that the things you concentrate on most come to pass. And so lately I am choosing to draw to me happiness, love, wealth, good health and clarity of vision. I am at a point in my life where mediocrity is not okay. I want to be BIGGER than I am now....COLORFUL knowing that its my right to shine.

Sometimes its so hard being a grown up...so hard making decisions but i am glad that for the time being all i have to consider is how I feel about it.

I know that i will succeed with and in my Art. I know that whatever artistic endeavour I touch will bring me ever closer to my dream.

I rebuke those energies that try to keep me down.
I hope you too keep your dreams close and make them a reality.

I am sooooo excited. I am going away next week to an undisclosed location to satisfy my soul...yes a soul liberation...basking in the glow of life. I live for the days when i don't have to answer the phone or go to work, or worry about this and that. While I am away I will just be present in the moment, luxuriate in my surroundings and just be. I can't wait....6 days......yes..........

So its been interesting. Summer is here and with come all sorts of interesting life developments. I have been secretly working on some new material and my sophomore album is almost finished as far as the songs but am not ready to really release it to the world. For some reason i need to hold it for a time in my hands. Thank you to those who have been at the private spaces where i tested some of my songs out. Your feedback is so important and your encouragement appreciated. Thanks REN for giving me great vibes to write.....i was seriously having writers block! Love our collabo!

One of my good friends Rachel has left and I am feeling sad. I miss her,so too the many friends that inhabit some other where more stimulating that this place. I am in the midst of making plans to follow suit .......................I was in OHIO 2 weeks ago...seemed nice the folks were so friendly. Akron much love!!

Today was a good day. Had to give a talk to some students at UMASS Boston about what i do as a Health Educator. I thoroughly enjoyed myself especially when the youth performed creative skits. U guys rock!!! ( is that too old school to say!!! am so getting old!) God has a sneaky way to reminding you what you are good at by giving you reinforcements ,and today it was the kids. Thanks much!! What bright & beautiful youth.

And finally AH Love.....yes one of my friends got married on Saturday like so many it gives me hope that love is possible. Wish i had been there , in person though my spirit continues to send waves of love to Carli and Brian. Always.

Soon it will be my time to shine.

for some reason i have not been in the mood to write. too busy living, loving, dreaming, planning, hoping, running, eating, laughing, making music, being me. happy.I am invigorated. I have found something to believe in again. LOVE. possibility.

I am embarking on taking the plunge and living my life out loud. I tell my students to follow their passions while sometimes closeting mine. I tell them to embrace their quirks when sometimes mine annoy me. But thats what makes me unique. And the fact that I have friends and family who love me tremendously speaks to the reminder that I am wonderful, I am God's CHILD.

I am humbled and feel blessed to LIVE another day.I took a chance about 4 week ago. Tried something different and found a wonderful person who has changed me. Inspired me to create. To reach. To believe. I want to tell that person thank you. You are the water that quenched my deserted soul.

And so now I ask the universe once again for the means and the ability to move to some other where, a place where I can plant new roots, blosom. The air doesn't seem to fresh where I am anymore. I ask the universe to give me the working situation that amplifies my gifts, that increases my wealth, that puts in a warmer climate, a place where I am surrounded by support, creativity and LOVE. I am confident as with everything that the desires of my heart are indeed possible and i am indeed worthy.

i hope that whoevers' eyes grace this page, that you might be liberated to follow your path....

SO today is supposed to a happy day. one where we celebrate our independence ( zim that is). But doesn't seem like much to celebrate when my people are jobless, hungry, sick and tired, frustrated and oppressed. But I say to them and all of us abroad that we cannot give up on our country or our people.Those that are deep in the trenches of everyday existence. Those that seem to survive inspite of what is thrown at them, sometimes literally. Those whose spirits refuse to be trampled. We can do what we can where we are to keep the fire burning within us. I love Zimbabwe. And I have hope that we shall regain ourselves because this degradation cannot last forever. Because our nation must rise so too must Africa rise.

SO haven't written in a while. Been busy with the art of living ! Hope you are all enjoying the weather, that you are cleaning out the closets of your home & your heart & minds to make room for new things.

SO what have I been up to ? Well first let me just say a big shout out Lehman College students and Faculty , in particular Dr Banoum and Dr Anne Rice. I had a really great trip there March 13th performing my work alongside Zeinab Eyega Directors of Sauti Yeti Center for African Women in celebration of Women;'s History Month. Thank your for your hospitality and for the great questions and support of my work!! Can't wait to come back there to the Bronx!!!

Then as March came to a close , I have avidly practicing for the dance performance in 2 weeks. Yes y'all I will be poeting, dancing and singing...I am a little nervous but the piece that Mila and Emily created in outstanding....so hope to see you all at the ICA in Boston if you can.

Monday night I was in NY to see one of my favorite women groups Les Nubians. Got to really hang out w/ them as well a some awesome folks at Deacon Blue in Brookyln. I love to have dinner at this spot with my friends when I am in town, its small and the owners Santos and Marci are great! Check it out. Was nice hanging out w. my friend J on the way back to Boston. Nice drive. Thanks for the ride.

What a week! So started of the week relaxing( imagine that!). I had forgotten what that felt since I was off to NY every week-end for the past month filming the series YA Ma' Afrika. Check out the new site folks
www.yamaafrika.com! Coming soon to a TV set near you!
We worked hard and I feel produced something that africans living here can relate to and others. Shout outs to Thato, Else and Yves and the amazing Crew and actors.

So while in NY we shared some ideas, and well this book called " The Secret" by Rhonda Bryne was shared. She was on Oprah too, and there is the website so you can watch the film too.

www.thesecret.tv
Its about the law of attraction, and all I can say is damn I am attracting a whole lot of great stuff into my life.!!!! Now the truth is that what they share is not that new. After all we all know the old adage " positive thoughts reap positive results" well it just takes it a step further, urging you to visualize it all the time the desires of your heart and see the universe bend to your wish. It works. It really does. I mean if you read the book " The Mastery of LOve" by Don Miguel Ruiz it speaks of the love in the same way......love manifests where there is truth and self love.
Anyhow if you don't believe me try it for yourself and watch your life be colored with joy! I mean I have shows coming to me, checks being mailed to me....ideas of new projects sprouting from my mind..its ridiculous!!!

I have fallen in love with my life and am so inspired. And I keep getting closer to the acme.

Even though its raining I am sunny inside. Today is going to be a fantastic day & I am planning on a wonderful exciting week-end.


P/S Note to the fine man that I saw the other day in the parking lot! Call me , lets do tea!! ( hey I figure I would speak it to the universe and see if its manifests!!!)

Stay lifted.

U-Meleni

Got an email this morning. My uncle passed away last night Mutare. my eyes are wet with tears, my heart heavy, so distant am but the pain hurts still. Please God comfort his family. I am glad that at least when I was home this summer I was able to do a special at home performance for him. He encouraged me to continue on the path, and for him I will shine.

Rest in peace Uncle Rugayo.

* a poem/ song will follow.

there's no truer emotion than LOVE. And thats my story and am sticking to it. My heart is open, willing to bloom and decorate someone else's life. Today, I spent time w/ someone to whom I owe much, someone who has seen me crumbling, and seen me shining, seen me learning, reaching for my goals, and offered their knees to give me a leg up! Tonight I want to say thank you, you know who you are. I love you. dearly. Always.

message to the people: when you find love hang on , hold on and never let go. In a world where there are so many people how awesome it is , what a chance, a gift to find someone to dance with..someone to be YOU with...Be brave, dare to open the window and let love come in. Even a moment is worth it.

SO its been quite a ride. I have been going and forth Boston to New York filming the show Ya ma'afrika and wow has it been a blast! Have learned so much from my cast mates about acting, life , and have grown tremendously. Some things truly are better learned in the field. It has been exhausting at times, in between the pregnant pauses of my life as a teacher, musician, poet finding time to be the actress. Sometimes hard to balance dreams but I do it because its like breathing, because I find meaning in this dance.

Have been feeling sort alone at times. Homesick, missing my family, my brother just started college in SA and I wish that he was closer. This past summer i got to really know him, to really talk to him like a person. So often I have treated him like that beautiful baby he was years ago when I was just a teen, walking, living life w/ not a care in the world. I was his protector, much to my chargin, taking him to the " village" this spot in Gaberone, Botswana, where I would try and bask in the sun, be noticed by the cool boys and hang w/ some of my girls chilling at the pool, etc..all the while babysitting my then 4yrold brother Kudzai. Those were the days when there was so much time yet to be lived..where did the time go? Seems as its whizzing by and I am loving my life for the most part. Many things that I used to write in the quiet comfort of my adolescent room listening the sounds of BBD, Keith Sweat, Force MD's. I dared to dream big. And I can say without shadow of doubt that all have wrote has come to pass and continue thusly! Thank you GOD.

Lately i have noticed that my friends are getting married one by one...and I am thrilled that they have found their partner for life, but..........i wonder when will my heart find a final resting place?

She is tired and needs a soft place to fall.