Let's See How Long...

before my sister realizes I posted this.  She claims to read my blog, but I wouldn't know it from her comments.  Exactly, she doesn't!

Anyway, my sister, Tiffany, is going to have her first short story published in Zane's Z-Rated - Chocolate Flava III.  I am quite excited for her.  When she told me the title of the story, I couldn't remember whether I had read/edited or what.  But after some thoughtful moments of reflection, I remember the title.  Lawd, she wrote that one a long time ago and she had the audacity to tell me don't tell The Guy the title, blushing.  Really? 

I will have to get this collection when it comes out, because I can't wait for The Guy to read it and hell to refresh my memory on the story. 

I bet you didn't know all of us, meaning my sister, brother and I all write.  Why?  Because our mother was a staunch reader and she imparted the love of reading upon all of us.  Now, my stuff is published in the way of reviews and few commentaries writings on website, but hey you have to start somewhere. 

Anyway, be sure to check out Zane's upcoming anthology, Z-Rated - Chocolate Flava III, when it comes out and be sure to check out Tiffany's story within its pages. 

"The only lasting truth is change."  Octavia Butler



Um, you may have noticed I have updated the title of the blog. I felt like it was time because I really don’t talk about my hair often enough to keep it as the main focus. As stated, I will mention my Sisterlocks, because I know newbies are always looking for reference materials about them. Plus, I want folks to know that it truly has been a journey and right now in my life I am over my hair. I take care of it and maintain it, but there isn’t much else to say about it. My hair does its thing and I am content with it right now and who knows what will happen in the future.


My blog is really focusing on other aspects of my life. Like my Randoms where I ramble about things I see and note as well as things I find interesting in my own life. Like my endless boredom recipes and other hobbies, such as reading. Although I do write a lot, I don’t put much of that writing on here because of its personal nature and this blog not being anonymous and all. I will say that my other blog has a small following now which trips me out, but as long as I don’t know them I can keep being open over there. So I hope you will continue to stay tune…

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Why did Chris Bosh cry like a baby after losing to the Mavericks?

I am preparing for the end to all things Law & Order. SVU is on its last leg and CI is doing its final episodes and I am having a hard time watching without tearing up. Geez, Law & Order has been in my life longer than any man has been. A love affair ending… Makes me sad.

Folks are talking about taking off on my second job to watch the BET Awards. Why?

Someone needs to do an intervention for Soulja Boy, I tried to watch the video of Conceited and frankly I just gave up.

When will television returned to well written scripted shows? I am over all the reality shows i.e. Basketball Whores Wives, 16 & Dumb Pregnant, Mob Wives, Kate and her kids, 19 and counting more and more kids, and on and on. I do like the Little Couple, Extreme Couponing and Toddler’s and Tiara’s. What?

However, I was so hyped to see my beloved Memphis Beat and HawthoRNe on Tuesday night. Loves them both. Closer and Roselli and Isles are on in July…Now that is television.

Speaking of television why is the cable company going up on their prices for services? Really?

I realized my family trip is cheating me out of a true vacation. 4 days is not nearly enough, but you can bet I am going to get a week’s vacation.

Speaking of family trip can someone tell my sister to stop asking me for an itinerary and packing list? I cannot plan an itinerary when we don’t have but three days and two of them half days for activities. Really all she wants to know is where we are eating. Anyone know of a restaurant we must try in Myrtle Beach?

Hunny Bunny says she needs a swimsuit. She is one little one who doesn’t care what you think about her is a swimsuit. I just want to know how she will get to the water without touching the sand. Just asking…

We had a customer on my second job come in and threaten to blow a cashier’s brains out over a free cup of water. Even I don’t say anything to him because I know he is touched and I am known for letting the less than desirables know they are not welcome in our store. Aunt Marie didn’t raise no fool!

Speaking of customers there are a few when I see them getting out of their cars I walk away from the counter or go to the back. Why you may ask? Because they do the most. Adding extra stuff, complicated orders, ordering their own concoction of stuff, trying to get shyte for free, been to the store a hundred million times and still take hours minutes to place an order.

Speaking of customers, I know you love little baby Billy. In fact, he is the cutest 6 month old one ever did see, in your eyes, but when you put your sweet adorable baby on the counter it is rude. Why you may ask? One’s bottom, azz, derriere should not be on the counter where others may be in contact or worse food will be passed across. I know you don’t think anything is wrong with it, but think of it like this: You as an adult sit your azz on the counter and see how many folks want their bags of food or food tray to be passed across that same counter.

Oh and to the lovely customer who changed her baby diaper in the booth and left the diaper for my workers to clean up, please never return. Please and thank you! This really did happen.

Will it ever rain again?

:::get closer to your screen::: I enjoyed watching Lil Wayne’s Unplugged. That is all.

I really want to be an extreme couponer. Seriously. Really.

I will be in Jamaica in 2012. Write it. Speak it. It shall happen.

I think I should tweet the family vacation under an anonymous name. Maybe not. I don’t tweet.

Sure Thang by Miguel is a catchy tune, but the artist is different.

My good friend loved Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones, but didn’t like the ending. I told her it was as it should be. I guess if you have a relationship with your father affects your response to the ending? Maybe not. Um, I just talked to my sister and she is mad after finishing it at 3 am this morning. Uh, oh! Ya’ll better run out and get this book if you haven’t.

Ya’ll feel sorry for Hefner? I betcha Holly at home just a laughing.

I didn’t see Oprah’s final show. Maybe someone will let me see it on their DVR. If not, oh well.

I am having a busy weekend ahead. So everyone have a great rest of the week and make the most of your weekend!

 

Let this beautiful bloom inspire you to stop and smell the roses too!

Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones  (Possible Spoilers)

Love this story and our book club discussion is going to be very interesting!

One of the things I like about Tayari Jones’ writing is the voices she gives her characters and how authentic they seem. In all three of her novels, I can picture her reading in those voices and making the story truly come alive. FYI – I met Tayari when she was promoting Leaving Atlanta and she was at local independent bookstore here in Montgomery. To this day, the one thing I remember is the animated voice she gave to her characters from that novel; she is one author who does a great reading.



This story is broken into two parts Dana and Chaurisse. The opening line was poignant because it propelled you towards a story we may have already seen play out or know someone who has been in similar circumstances. I don’t want to give away too much of the story but know it deals with bigamy, infidelity, self-worth, legitimacy and other deeply rooted issues. Dana’s character gave me a real insight into how a child, who must be kept a secret, deals with the choices her parents made and its effect on her emotionally. I felt for Dana’s character on several levels, but mostly the feeling of wanting the security in knowing her father loved her unconditionally. Chaurisse’s character was also strong because she had to face some unpleasant truths about the life as she knows it, I loved that she was angry and defiant and I could empathize with what she was dealing with.

When I finished this story, I was in tears and very angry with James. Somewhere between the last pages and remembering my own life the dislike of my own father trickled within me and I understood so clearly how much Dana hurt, because I do not understand the inability of a man to not acknowledge his child. How does a real man sleep at night or teach his son’s to be a man if he has never “manned up”?


The characters grew up during the same timeframe as I did so of course I could identify with the music, television and clothing of the time. Jones had me relieving my school years with the authenticity. The story moved in an exacting pace and built up to its climax, which I wasn’t quite sure how it would go, but I knew a revelation would come and Jones did it right. Silver Sparrow is well-written, with lyrical moments and poignant truths and no unrealistic fairytale ending.


Rating:  4.5

This Weekend’s Waiting on the Rapture Randoms…

So what time zone was this Rapture supposed to happen at 6:00 pm? I am so confused. Probably why I do not watch the news.


Thanks to Mrs. TDJ, who pointed out that if you weren’t a google account holder, you couldn’t comment on my blog. I never knew, but I have corrected it. Yeah! Now how long have I been blogging?...


I had big ideas of being an extreme couponer, but last Sunday my paper had absolutely no coupons.  Maybe I'll try again next week.


We had our book club meeting Saturday. It seems like just yesterday we had a meeting. We have some big things happening in the way of community service this year. Our book for June is Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones. I love her work. I am so excited to open the first page, because unlike the majority of my book club members, I do not have a Kindle or Book Nook. I am still in love with smelling the pages of a new book and touching and turning every page. Plus, damn it I need page numbers. I am anal like that.


We are having a Girls Night In Summer Cookout meeting at my house. They were asking were we going to be grilling that evening. Of course I was giving them the side-eye and WDTDTA? Because I grill early in the morning because I do not do heat, sun or mosquitoes.


I left the book club meeting upon finishing the benediction and this time I did have a date. LOL!


I sent my sister another cute picture of myself. She says I am over the top and she can’t deal. Is she jealous of my vanity?

You should see the full picture of the dress.  When I upload from my camera this week oh yeah!  I am so vain sometimes.

I made two new dishes this weekend and my sunflowers are blooming. Guess what, I will have some blog posts this week of my old lady antics.

I was so glad my yard guy finally cut my grass because the weeds were touching my legs and I am crazy enough to think it is a snake or lizard so I was getting a bit scared. We have had quite a bit of rain these last few weeks.


I washed my hair today. Why in all that is beautiful and glorious do I dread this process so much? But before I could even begin to wash I spent two hours retightening. Having Sisterlocks ain’t easy and don’t let nobody tell you different. You still have to do your hair.


I was told I needed to eat because I look as if I am about to disappear. I lost 6 pounds in the last two weeks, but um I had gained 10 during the winter and this go around I seem to be distributing the weightloss differently.

Ya’ll Beyoncé’s Run the World song will make you do extra laps on the track or treadmill. I did three extra laps yesterday so I could prance and walk to the song. I must have been a sight to see.


I still fool people on the phone with my work voice. I guess I shouldn’t use it at home when I answer the phone because some folks are totally confused.


My lil cousin, Carson is still hanging in there. Keep on praying.


The book club is going to New Orleans in September and we will be doing some community services things upon our arrival because the debauchery will begin soon after. I hope we have a very good meeting since we are having a destination book club meeting. Plus, we have several members who have never been to New Orleans. Yeah, we are gonna have some fun.


Did you all see my sister commented on one of my posts?


Hunny Bunny likes my container garden, but she seems perplexed by why everything is growing in pots.


My sister likes to torture my older niece and have her literally in tears. Why must she be so cruel? I even felt kinda guilty and text the poor soul that her mom was tripping and it wasn’t true.


Have you ever met someone whose fear of something far outweighs your own, because you don’t have a similar reaction. Makes you think, hell I am good with this flying compared to other folks. Geez.


I am embarking on another week of no sugar. Pray for the little children at my 2nd job. And hope the espresso of my morning coffee compensates so I am not miserable on my full-time job.


My muse is itching to write something crazy and I guess I better get on it because he or she can really be off the chain when I do not respond in a timely manner to their gentle and persistent urgings.


Well, it is Sunday I am still here and either I missed the Rapture or Hell is right here on Earth, someone’s prediction was off yet again. I am just mad there were folks really believing some regular man.


Have a great upcoming week!

What can I say?

I have been so lazy lately. All I have felt like doing is going to the two jobs and reading. I owe ya'll some randoms too. I need to write them down because I make myself laugh with my thought processes.


I am currently in Atlanta, Georgia at the National Book Club Conference for the weekend. Got here yesterday about 4 pm. Had a little rain, but not too much, what got me was the 32 miles of construction from right after the Georgia line and 15 miles out of ATL. Ugh! I wanted to scream and speed. Driving 50 mph on the interstate is like driving standing still. Then when I finally get to ATL getting downtown allowed me to be aggressive and I didn't let the traffic work my nerves. What? I was ready to kick someone's azz after driving in slow motion for 32 miles.



The hotel is the same as last year's NBCC, but without the church group of last year. OMG! The service and the elevator use has been great. Seriously, ATL is allowing me to be great. But, um this dayum rain is a mess. I haven't been able to walk to Centennial Park or anything. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be able to. Did I mention the service here has been impleccable. Loves it!


(Me & Author Eric Pete)


The NBCC is much more organized. I had my doubts, but again ATL is allowing me and NBCC be great! The authors, the readers and the panels today have been just wonderful. It began with the Bebe Campbell Award, but they did a short memoriam for E. Lynn Harris by authors Clarence Nero, Tracie Howard, Kimberla Lawson Roby and Terry McMillan. I cried just a little bit. Then Bertice Berry the receipient got up there and sang, preached and spoke on it! I love her! Last time I saw her, she told me to "Let Love Love Me." I have never forgotten it. I hope I can get my picture with her. I also got to meet author Eric Pete. He is so genuine and just humble. He was gracious and frankly he made it for me today because he really loves his fans. Talking with him before the event was nice. I met other authors and let me tell you the Black Pain panel is the highlight of my experience here. Terrie Williams is so kind and warm she allows you deal with the pain and she knows what it feels like to deal with mental illness. Lovely panel. I hope they do this panel again.

FYI - I retightened this week. Hair looks good!





More to come later! Missed you guys!