Sy Smith - Conflict

Sy Smith, a background singer on American Idol, chatted with Mo'Nique about her CD, Conflict, and performed Fly Away with Me. Check it out along with The Art of You.  Your ears will thank you!

To NOT kill a Mockingbird

Sleep problems stem from many different reasons.  I have more than one but the most interesting is called Mockingbird Syndrome.  Okay, that's not a real issue.  I made it up.  However, it can cause real health concerns for those of us who are already sleep deprived and this tiny creature adds to the problem.  How can a bird hamper a human's sleep process?  It sings!  No, no... not the ones who sing at daybreak.  This lovely little devil sings at night.  All night!!!  It has many different calls and it shares it's large repertoire usually beginning at 2:00 a.m.  Occasionally,  some have begun earlier.  And when they tag-team and one repeats the other's call, it's double trouble.  Did I tell you that it sings all night?  Well, it's worth repeating.  Granted, the calls are varied, interesting and cute, at first.  The next night, it's annoying.  By the end of the week, it's so irritating, you're tempted to go find the bird, grab it by it's tiny little throat, squeeze hard and break the beak just to make sure it can't sing anymore.  Then, reality sets in... it's late and dark (really dark) and the mockingbird is not the only creature that thrives at that hour in the deep, deep darkness.  The eight-legged freaks are out there, too.  So, you can't go find the bird, grab it by it's tiny little throat, squeeze hard and break the beak just to make sure it can't sing anymore.  Instead, you turn up the volume on your T.V. a bit and  put the pillow over your head and pray that the bird moves on to a tree outside of someone else's bedroom window.  Heck, the damn tree isn't even in my yard.  It's the neighbor's tree. At 2:00 a.m., it may as well be my tree because that singing bird is my problem.  Some nights, I watch the sun come up because so does the bird, singing all the while.  Mockingbirds are protected by law, hence the title of this post, "To NOT kill a Mockingbird." Besides, I like birds.  They come in so many pretty colors and have such varied looks and they can fly!  But, I don't want one singing incessantly outside my window at 2:00 a.m.  It even has a call that is reminiscent of someone screaming, car alarms, and all sorts of what nots. Here's a Youtube video to help you understand what I'm ranting about if you've never experienced it yourself.  This bird's sleep schedule has to be upside down.  Birds are supposed to delight us with their melodious voices in the freaking daytime! Ahhhh, if only I had wings to fly myself somewhere else until the bird shut up.  Until then, I'll work on getting to sleep before he or she gets to singing.  Wish me luck!