My Birthday Wishlist! (Mark June 27th off on your calendar!)

It's that special time again! In 10 days, I'll be celebrating my Golden Birthday... I'll be turning 27 years old on the 27th of June! Just in case you lovely people have NO CLUE what to get me, as always, here's my birthday wishlist. 

✓✓✓ (Thanks, Daddy) 1. Sega Genesis (in new or near new condition):
The Cancerean is known for her nostalgia, and this is DEFINITELY a throwback. A Genesis is the only gaming system I've ever owned. Call me old-fashioned for being perfectly content with an arrow pad and 3 buttons to work with, but I would rather my old 24-bit Genesis to the complexity of any other game system. Besides, I recently got ahold of the Sega game "Michael Jackson MoonWalker" and I'd LOVE to be able to play it.

 

2. Piano and/or Guitar Lessons:
I think guitar lessons were on my list 3 birthdays ago, after I first got my guitar (which presently serves as a decorative piece in my bedroom). I think it's time for me to get on it. But lessons in either instrument would greatly help me as an artist.

3. Tickets to Jill Scott's Summer Block Party Tour:
Just the samples of her new album have blown me away. Seeing her live is always inspiring, and this new album sounds AMAZING!
 

4. Studio Time:
Chris Belmont aka Rock from Jah Rockin' Productions would be glad to help you help me get this 2nd album done. *smile* (347)-240-4881

5. Bella Cucina Cupcake Maker:
I love food...End of story. But I really love making things to eat with my own hands. This machine would make it easier, and hey, whoever bought it for me would benefit from it as well. 

6. A Copy of "A Belle In Brooklyn: The Go-To Girl for Advice on Living Your Best Single Life" by Demetria L. Lucas:
I love her blogs & articles in Essence, I've met her briefly, and I believe in supporting the great work my sisters do. That being said, I want this book!
 

7. Services for "Bobby Drake":
My Toyota Corolla named Bobby Drake always welcomes gifts from friends, whether they're gift certificates for Oil Changes and Engine Flushes or a full detail. Bobby's engine will purr with gratitude. 

8. A Bedazzled Microphone:
Nothing says, "I'm a star" like a mic covered in sparkles. I have the mic, I have a friend that does it, just haven't gotten around to paying her to do it. $300 is a bit of change.
 

Sidenote: I honestly don't usually get anything from my wishlist for my birthday, but I really get enjoyment from thinking and writing about the things I want. I'll probably just get them myself later on in the summer. lol. 

New Poem: More

My heart hurts for you
Since yours is too numb to feel anymore
As I watch him steal your joy
Both in his presence and when he's gone
I thought u were stronger than that
I see you for who you could be
A single mom
No, a mother who knows daughters tend to follow maternal example
A mother who neglects her desire for comfort zone men
Guys who sit on shelves like teddy bears
For no other reason than they've always been there 
Even though they've long been outgrown
I saw you as a mother who'd spend many a lonely night
Just to show her child what sacrifice was like
Show her that a no good man, 
Is no good, man.
Just because he makes you weak in the knees
Doesn't mean you can't take a stand
I don't understand what you see in him
Or maybe it's what you don't see in yourself
What makes you believe that u don't deserve happiness
You're more beautiful than your situation
You're a snowflake on a summer rose
Rare, delicate, but fading fast
Clinging to something that wasn't meant to last
Your child may be perfect with both your DNA
But you two will always clash
The man laughs at your dreams
Takes pride in your pain
But you stay with him so he continues to do it again and again
Cause for him,
Rejecting you keeps you at bay
And no matter what you say
You're addicted to insults
And used to taking in strays
I pray you see the err of your ways
And that in the novel of you
This will be a ripped-out page
Not to be told retold/ or ever replayed
I wish I could make you hate him like I do
He's laid up with other chicks
Don't you taste her lip gloss on his lips?
Sis 
He's got your soul in a choke hold
Stop questioning what you did for him to treat you this way
Question what the heck made you stay
And throw so many years of your life away
Pulling tears from your eyes
While Donnell Jones cries in the background
You're too good for that
Too fly to go back
So from this day on vow to move forward
Cause this is worst than a blow to your face
He's given your soul a smack
Left permanent imprints on the color of your eyes
Torn apart the love letter you gave him between your thighs
Nothing you say can change him
Cause leopards don't change their spots
Why would they want to
When it's gotten them thru life all these years
My sister, use a mirror to count your tears, 
Each one from a different fear
Be sick of the way they taste on your lips
Vow never to let someone making you cry a habit
Know that true love stories are still non-fiction
It will find you once you let the fictional love leave you
My prediction
Is that someone will see you
Someone will see YOU
And appreciate you 
Your sincerity, 
Your resilience is beautiful
The features you hate on yourself are perfection
Madame Recarnier
You don't see your own masterpiece
I pray that you'll see that when he leaves 
He won't take away pieces of you
But he'll leave a certain peace within you
You'll see that in overcoming him
You'll find the power that I know you have within

Copyright © 2011 Shanelle Gabriel 

Please do not reprint or repost without my permission 

New Video: "More Than One of a Kind" by Shanelle Gabriel (Taped by Dollar Van Demos)

You saw my boy Wordspit in the Dollar Van McDonald's commercial...Now witness me perform my song "More Than One of a Kind" in the Dollar Van Demos Performance Series.

*Note: Passengers are REAL passengers! They had NO clue what they were getting into.

Who'd have thought a dollar van ride could be so entertaining?

Crushing Hard (New Poem Live from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe)

Reminiscing on crushes throughout life. I'm soooo nostalgic! :)

Shanelle's New Music and Shows in NYC & Boston!

Happy Belated New Year!

Am I the only one still writing "09" on my dates? It's 2010! Welcome to the new year. 2009 was a diffcult year for many, but I believe it provided us with prospective and lessons so that we all can grow into who we're supposed to be. I've spent the last few weeks prepping & planning, and I know blessings are on their way to all of us!

Last week was filled with a lot of fundraisers for the crisis in Haiti. I encourage you all to text "Yele" to 501 501 to donate to Wyclef's Yele Organization. I've been working a lot with Liz Whitney (a friend and Yele representative) and Wyclef has been doing some amazing things (regardless of what the media tried to say). Help if you can!

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NEW SONG!

Before I ask you to go anywhere, I'm giving you a special gift...A NEW SONG. Till Monday night, you can download my new song "More Than One of a Kind" for FREE from www.shanellegabriel.com/music. Just click on the box. Feel free to share it with anyone you think would enjoy it. And if you like it, let me know!

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NYC & BOSTON SHOWS

• Tomorrow, Thursday, Jan 28th, I'll be featuring along with Talaam Acey, Lamar Hill, Ainsley Burrows, and Amun Miraj
  Bowery Poetry Club (308 Bowery, New York, New York 10012). 7:30pm. $10

• This Friday, I'll be featuring along side Caits Meissner, Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai,  and B. Yung at Mike Geffner’s Inspired Word Show. 21+ (MAKE SURE TO BRING ID)
  Le Poisson Rouge (158 Bleecker Street, New York, New York 10012). 7pm. $10
  

• This Sunday in Boston! I'll be featuring for the first time at this dope venue. 21+ (MAKE SURE TO BRING ID)
  Lizard Lounge Poetry Jam (1667 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138) 8:30pm

I have upcoming shows in NYC and South Florida. Hope to see you soon. Stay Blessed!

-Shanelle Gabriel

www.twitter.com/shanelleg