June 28: Why I am a Californian. Ode to a Grandmother who saved my life

June 28, 1919

Today is my grandmothers birthday, well my great grandmother. My grandmother died before I came around these parts. The details of her death haunt me to this day.

Today, June 28, I have always remembered because my great grandmother loved to go to Sizzler on her Birthday! She is the reason I am a Californian. She moved from Louisiana to Arkansas (where her parents were slaves/sharecroppers), at the age of 16 or 18 she left her family and moved to California!

Fast forward a few decades and here I am.

That’s the simple version

June 28, 1919.

I recall it like it was yesterday, she was in the kitchen on the phone with her friend planning her trip to Sizzler, and I thought she did this before,and in that moment I looked up at a wall calendar hanging right by the yellow rotary phone, June 28 was circled and it was her Birthday! I was 5. I never forgot it. I never forgot her.

I was not her favorite person in the world. She said I looked too much like my daddy,which was unacceptable to her, but it didn’t matter to me if she liked me first, second, third, or fourth, she was family and I loved her.She literally saved my life.

I was almost killed as youngling and I guess on an energetic level that is why I was drawn closer to her. The woman who literally saved my life. The details of which still haunt me to this day. I never truly understood how courageous she was but I do now. If it were not for my Great Grandmother I would not be able to write this post.

Thank you June 28, 1919

From your eternal friend June 28, 2013

Grandmother Love
Grandmother Love

Dropbox seeks collaboration in a major way

image

Dropbox is stepping up their game in a series of releases this week. First a #developer conference now new folders. They want #collaboration  combined with #innovation!  Do you use Dropbox? Tell me how?
If you Do Not use Dropbox leave your email address below and I will send you a personal invite!
#sf #SiliconValley #datastorage #mobile #girlsbelike #selfie #tech #startup #nerd

Top 10 Reasons NOT to Commit Suicide

image

With so much going on about bullying, internet attacks, and suicide at ALL AGES I felt I had to give you a few reason why you should NOT kill yourself (or others)

 

Reasons NOT to kill yourself

 

1. It’s just not cool

 

2. Your suicide note hasn’t been perfected. A note is something people left in EVERY century prior to this one. In the technology enlightenment era, you can no longer leave a “note” because it will live on forever! And in the age of digital footprint, you want to be sure your “note” if more of a manifesto. It could take months even years to clearly outline your thoughts and feelings. It will go viral so be sure its good.

 

3. Your dog would miss you (if you do not have a dog, get one so he/she could miss you) No one will care for your dog the way you will!

 

4. Have you cleaned your room?! I say this everyday or every time I feel like I had a close call  I say, “I can’t die today my room is not clean”. Do you REALLY want the paramedic team to have to go through your filthy room? Ummmm no! If you put this on your “bucketlist” you will be around for a while!

 

5.Whomever is the source of your pain or depression will win. You don’t want that

 

6.Where would you do this? I’m sure you have not thought about the Where? Who will find you? etc….. I’m sure you don’t want your family/friends to find you. And aren’t those the people who would find you,so no! I don’t really recall enemies,ex fiances, ex boyfriends,ex wives, and haters coming to check on you to see if you are alright, it WILL be a friend or family member who will have to discover your body, not cool.

 

7. Your mother will pass out! – Yes she will pass out! Oh hey she will pass the f*** out! Like fall out! She loved you for 9 months, she loved you before you didn’t get into Yale, after you didn’t get in to grad school, and before you got divorced, after you got evicted, while you were in rehab…all that jazz. It’s true. It was you and her just chillin and hanging out together month after month after month.

 

8. Life is the the most important thing in LIFE! Nothing else truly matters in life,everything else is just minor details

 

9. Ask yourself this question…If I won $50 Million Dollars next week would I still want to commit suicide? If your answer is NO, then you are not a great candidate for suicide, your problems can be solved with money. That is literally putting a price on your life. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMxX-QOV9tI You cannot put a price on a life!

 

10. Do you value Life? Science? Religion? Spirituality? I got you covered … The Short version You would be turning your back on all 4 if you commit suicide

 

There you go! TOP 10 REASONS NOT TO COMMIT SUICIDE

 

Notice I do not mention friends and family as a reason not to kill yourself because lets face it they probably got you in this situation.

 

Okay Okay my #11 is Family and Friends!

 

11. If you want to commit suicide , think of the other people it will effect. DO NOT be fooled by crazy people telling you its “your choice” . Yes,sure, it is your choice to ruin your family, sure ! 😉 why not?  They just don’t finish the sentence. Truth is when you kill a family member it affects EVERYTHING! Even though you say “NO one cares about me, no one will notice if I’m dead, my parents will be better off, my sister hates me, I wish I were dead”  Its just a myth. You ARE in effect altering the course of your natural life and it will affect others. So even if you want to kill yourself, don’t because other lives will drastically change. If you can’t stay alive for you, then stay alive for your family.

 

SO to sum it up do not kill yourself or others, because I care and I love you!

TECH TIP- LOCK IN THE SUICIDE HOTLINE NUMBER ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE – 800.273.8255

 

Name suggestions to save it under (in no particular order)

  • Nikola Tesla
  • Oprah
  • North West
  • Michael Jackson
  • Aristotle
  • The Alien
  • Mark Twain
  • God
  • Albert Einstein
  • Carl Sagan
  • Your dogs name  (first and last name)

Tweet me name suggestions! @LibertyMadison

These are just a few suggestions that will make you smile a bit when you need to use this number.Pick names of people you would love to have a conversation about life with.

#ThatTechGirl

 

 

Blackberry and #ThatTechGirl San Francisco Tour

image

#ThatTechGirl caught up w @blackberry for the #keepitmovingtour in #sf #blackberry10. I only had a few moment with the device because I kept talking w staff but one thing I love is feeling like a #tech #ninja! Instead of #swipe you #flick your words! Very cool …not going to say its going to save the company but it could pick up a few new clients! Once I spend more time with the #z10 ill update you and review it. Confession : I am a a closeted Blackberry owner and secretly want to see them turn it around and succeed . You can’t leave your house in #SiliconValley without someone pushing some #mobiletech on you 🙂 And yes I am aware I am rocking a #microsoft #outlook shirt. Its like the #charity of technology ….or the #1995 of technology

Technology of the Starbucks Lemon

image

Just learned some cool #technology about #lemonwater at #starbucks . The #lemon is #freezedried! Research shows once you shake or stir a freezedried fruit in water it makes it more #favorful #potent. Yes I go to Starbucks and I don’t drink #coffee or #tea! They have the best #water in the game! #cleanliving #vegan #Vegetarian #healthy #iamwater

#ThatTechGirl and Daisy, Microsoft Bulldog at SF New Tech

image

Trying to kiss the #microsoft #outlook #mascot #bulldog #daisy! #ThatTechGirl is always doing something! #dogs and #tech while #hosting an event in #sf what more could you ask for! #sfnt #sfnewtech #SiliconValley #startup #geek #nerd #womenintech #tvhost #frenchtechtour

#ThatTechGirl ,Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson Start up life!

image

#ThatTechGirl is taking a group to see #theinternship and have a #googlehangout about it! If you are in #SiliconValley #bayarea #sf and want to see this film! Lets talk #tech #mobileapps #code #backend #startup and see how close to reality the film is! #programmer #owenwilson #vincevaughn #googleIO #google #founder #cofounder #startuplife

#ThatTechGirl Bedtime Routine w Prof. Brian Cox

image

libertymadison #NightLife – Bedtime routine grab @profbriancox #AlbertEinstein and talk about why e=mc2.  I suggest you pick up a copy and give it a glance before you #meditate or #fallasleep …its a win win! Either you learn, grow, or it will knock you right out because you will be bored to tears! LOL love #briancox #physicist #astrophysicist #nerd #geek #weareone #tech #universal

#ThatTechGirl and The YAHOO Yodel

image

Life in #SiliconValley Meet up with Wylie Gustafson of @yahoo fame @yodelking59425 . You may not recognize the face but you know the voice! He gave me my very own personal yodel!! Very exciting! Wylie is from my 2nd favorite state #montana and is in #sf to open for the band #fun . I know I never do #yahoo post but im a huge fan of the #yodel YAHOOOOOOOOOOO.  I hope the brand can catch up and be as memorable as Wylie instead of just a memory! #startuplife #startup #tech #nerd #geek #techfamous #bayarea #ThatTechGirl is on it!!!