Dark Versus Light

Happy Halloween to all.  It's been a little while since my last blog... I have been wanting to write about this interesting topic for a while and I finally found the time. Doing it in the dark or the light.  So, this time I am not talking about sex.  That would be an interesting free writing piece though.  And the analysis would tell a lot more about me.
This is about exercising.  Another fun and sweaty activity.
My exercise activities include jogging, spinning, yoga and Bikram hot yoga, and all of these are done in different lighting situations.  And I think there must be a reason for each...And now I believe that we do many things in different lighting due to how we want to feel during the event. 
For yoga, the lights are usually off or quite dim. I go to yoga to stretch, to build strength, and to relax by putting all my thoughts aside.  The lights help me to get to a place where I still feel present in the moment yet allow myself to escape the everyday happenings that usually hold me back. When I go to yoga, I want to feel alive yet calm, and with the lights turned down, it helps my body to become a flowing entity one with peace yet thoughtful and alive.   
For spinning, the lights are off  and I couldn't figure out why.  I needed to know where my peddles were, I needed to balance myself when we were jumping (and I thought the lights would help me?), I needed to see my instructor and mimic her moves since I can't  hear her because of the loud music, and I needed to see my peers and see what they were doing. However after a lot of thought, I don't need the lights on. I actually prefer the darkness for this exercise. The darkness helps me to get to a place of self-imagination.  Did I just make this phrase up? I place myself somewhere with a goal, a destination may it be or an attainable sustainable goal. I ride the course to get there and only concentrate on the work that is being used (that I am doing) to get there. I do not worry about competition, the way I might appear to someone looking in, nor the "leader" in front of the room.I do not worry, I just do it.
For Bikram Yoga, the lights, fluorescent lights, are turned on to the max! When I first entered in the room the lights were lower and then in walked the instructor who turned those bad boys on full force. I couldn't figure out why he did this. Then I finished the class.  The lights, the extreme heat, not normal occurrences. But if you think about it, when we are in times of struggle and confusion, conditions and our senses are heightened, and in the end we stress out and panic. I think with Bikram and it's intensity of light, I might, emphasizing might, be able to calm down during a scenario and think about my actions better than I would if I had never taken hot yoga.
So do I prefer it with the lights on or off? I always have my light dimmer if I can't decide.

Walks for Causes

I promised a give away today-info follows after the blog entry!

Today I dedicate my blog to some causes that I personally have a stake in.  I will be participating in 2 walks in September and October.  The first walk is next weekend for the Staten Island Family Path Center.  The PATH Family Center is a clinical center in Staten Island that offers integrative and nutritional interventions for individuals diagnosed with Autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Food Allergies and other related conditions.
My best friend's son, Joseph, has been diagnosed with Autism since a young age and has made so many strides because of the love and support of family and friends and because of the network within the Path Family Center.
Here is the link to find out more and donate to Joey's Team:
https://pathfamilycenter.dojiggy.com/pledge/index.cfm?585F2208107477787F0C0168127037562F437902057B750504#.TjbbHVwsMBw.facebook

The second walk is in October, the Nationally dedicated month for Breast Cancer Awareness.  I have come to know many people diagnosed and treated for breast cancer within the last 5 years.  Why has this Cancer so many women? Maybe because it is because of my age bracket we are more susceptible, or maybe it's because we are more aware, or maybe it is the environment in which we live that affects the well being of our body. 
Most recently, a young woman in my family became very aware of a lump in her breast after a self check.  She immediately took action.  Women, learn a lesson here: know your body, own it, and take care of it!  Here is the link to Kristin's story: http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/TR/MakingStridesAgainstBreastCancer/MSABCFY12Eastern?px=22809320&pg=personal&fr_id=36013

I know that there are many walks for wonderful causes: causes that may have directly or indirectly affected you, a family member, a friend, co-worker, neighbor, etc.  There are many to walk for and raise awareness.  There are many that need our support. 

If you decide to donate to either of these two causes by Saturday at 11:59PM, please leave a comment with your information so that I can enter you in a drawing for Lia Sophia Jewelry.  Your choice of any item under $100 in the Lia Sophia Catalog for free.  If you repost on your twitter or facebook accounts, also please let me know and I will give you an extra chance in the drawing!!! 

The drawing will take place on Sunday morning.  Also, if you want to check out more about Lia Sophia, I am an Advisor in the Tri-City Area (NY, NJ and CT), so please check out my page for more information.

Every woman is the embodiment of beauty, only she knows how to make herself be beautiful, internally and externally.

Juror # 9

This blog has been a long time coming.  It is an experience that ripped me a part for a long time but I must write about it.

Back in March, I was selected for jury duty and became juror #9 on a trial of a 22 year old black male. The case was a home invasion burglary.  The alleged crime took place in the neighborhood off of Bay Street near Hylan Blvd in Staten Island in March 2009. The suspects were black guys: Black masked men. The mask they wore were black, one in which had with white stripes.  And the men were black; Six feet tall and well built.  They wore black jackets. 
So what's the trend here?  A lot of black and very vague descriptions of those involved.

Did they wear gloves? Nobody was sure, which was evident when hearing the cloudy testimony. There were guns though.

Ironically, the cops lost their written notes from that day.  Questionable?  There was no fingerprints anywhere in the house. So, was everyone wearing gloves?  Victim included?  Because there was a lot of blood on walls and on the floor.  Not one fingerprint?  Not of the home owner and alleged victim who held the glass door open for the unmasked black man who asked if "John" was home. Not one! Not one witness, not the man who got beat up, not the neighbor that saw the men walking away from the house, not anyone who saw the black men walking up a street where everyone has lived for about 20 years. The only proof that we the  jury ever heard was the DNA on the mask that somebody left in the middle of the kitchen. 
So let me recap: No written notes from the cops; No physical description of any of the 4 men; DNA on a mask; no fingerprints in the entire house. Okay so the DNA alone should  prove that the male was in the house and committed everything he was charged of. Should it? The defendant decided not to take the stand-he didn't have to because it was up to the ADA to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Unfortunately life is not that easy and to make a decision simply based on this proved to be a tough 11 day trial.
The jury: 2 older white women that immediately said guilty. DNA on the mask found at the scene is enough to say he did it.
2 men and  2 older women of different ethnic groups and 6 young women of various backgrounds.
Others  gradually turned their verdicts to guilty as time went on every morning we reported; however 2 of us were standing on our ground.  We couldn't  see past the reasonable doubt factor. Would this be a hung jury or would we all come to an agreement? We asked many questions of the judge; and constantly asked to hear the testimony several times.  The defendant's lawyer loved us.  The Assistant District Attorney team, not so much.

These were some of the reasons why the 2 of us couldn't get to a guilty verdict so quickly: No fingerprints; A mask with DNA could have been placed there; The cops' notes disappeared from an office where only the detective had access to.
 The theories surrounding this event were many: The son of the owner was a drug dealer and in partnership with the black men. The son stole some of the profits and they were looking for him to pay them back and the parents were protecting their son; The cops were out to get this kid because he was a known problem in the neighborhood; It was a part of a gang initiation of some sort; It was the kid's mask that his friends made him wear for fun or a part of another crime, however he wasn't at this burglary; The kid did another job with them and he turned someone in so now they were casting revenge on him; They had taken his mask and one of the men dropped it in the middle of the bloody mess in the kitchen on pulse, because what fool would take of his mask while punching a man and then drop it?
Some of these theories are out of the box but when you are on a jury, you are making a decision that affects many peoples' lives, it's one difficult task!  

The bottom line is that I am the type of person that needs all to come to some agreement.  I need to make decisions thoughtfully.  As time went on, I was the only one holding on to a not guilty verdict.  They hated me! I was keeping them from going back to work, going to Atlantic City; but I did get them some more free yummy meals.
There were several counts we were considering, so as time went on, I used logic and fact, and stopped using theories and said well if his DNA was there then I guess he was there. I feel like we were trapped and needed to come to a decision.  I feel like the jury system failed me, a person who really wanted to make an informed decision.     
Let me state, I never want to be judged by a jury of my "peers." And thank God I don't have to serve on any jury for another 8 years!!!!  

Here are two links to the story written by the Staten Island Advance.  Usually I am a fan of the media; but did find it interesting how a story gets distorted.  I did come to find out, though, that he was originally brought to trial on this alleged where a hung jury preceded us.  Thus I felt even more distressed about the decision to find him guilty.  But I did raise my hand and affirm him as guilty. 

http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2011/03/felled_by_his_ski_masks_dna_22.html

http://www.silive.com/northshore/index.ssf/2011/05/west_brighton_felon_gets_15_ye.html