APRIL FOOL'S DAY RANDOMS...

Yes, my hair is up, which is how I wear it when I have a hard workout planned for the day.

• I was going to do an April fool’s joke on here, but I changed my mind. I thought about saying I was pregnant or getting married, but both of those lies require a significant other and you know my folks are still trying to date or marry me off so I thought naw, better not put that up there the rumor mill will be out of control.

• Once my cousin’s husband went to my second job and told everyone there he was my ex-husband. When I get to work, I noticed folks were looking at me strange and shyte, but I just shrugged it off. Well the other manager said, “Cashana, I didn’t know you were married, because your ex-husband, Charles came by here yesterday. I was just shocked.” Of course I was looking at her with the serious side-eye, and I let her know that was my cousin’s husband and damn don’t you think he is a little too damn old for me? I got a type and he ain’t it! Geez.

• I am going to have to listen to another radio station because the one I currently listen to sends me into spasms of true hate for particular songs. I know most stations pre-record and such but damn I know when certain songs will play. Ugh!

• I am not so cranky today. I am however contemplating how many more hours until I can get home and go to sleep.

• My sister said I needed to use my time better after reading my TMI randoms this week.

• My second job fired two cooks right before spring break. Lovely time. I was tired and cranky by the end of the week and so were the other managers. My only question was why folks would act a donkey knowing it took me two weeks to do the schedule.

• Two of my spring breakers brought me back ankle bracelet. I guess they did it because I told them they would save me a trip to Nassau if they did. Hell, it worked.

• It is official the FAMILY will be doing a family trip to Myrtle Beach, SC. Oh the joy. I agreed knowing that I had made a deposit for the National Book Club Conference.

• Speaking of the NBCC, I just don’t want to attend anymore. Seriously, my book club members were supposed to attend. Ask me how many are planning on attending? Same number who have attended in the past. Yeah. I decided since Tyrese has a book coming out and he is to attend and he can’t spell author on his twitter page that was reason enough not to attend. No really, go read it.

• Back to the family trip. Pray for us, you know my family can be pure comedy when we all get together. I wish I could have posted about the tomfoolery after my aunt’s funeral with the drinking and carrying on, but I decided to protect the innocent. Anyway, we are all driving and there have already been threats levied. My sister is worried one cousin will bring the vodka and Hypnotiq, one cousin threatening to take my 16 year old niece out partying and others scared who they may have to share a condo with. Yep, we aren’t going until the end of July so I am sure the funny that is my family will continue until then.

• Our last book club meeting was at a hotel in Prattville that is located on the golf course. We met around a pit fire and it was wonderful. I would love to do it again. Only problem was the service at the restaurant sucked! Why are there servers who really aren’t customer friendly?

• I am still doing my nails with Salon effects. I like my hands being pretty.

Raise Your Glass, kinda appropriate.

• I am going back to New Orleans this year. Let’s hope it is as fun as it was the last time I was there and since I am older maybe the debauchery will be nonexistent. Hell, who am I kidding?

• Did you know Chips Ahoy now has a cookie with Heathbar pieces in it? I make cookies with Heathbar pieces and chocolate chips they have stolen my idea. Oh well…

• Although we are going to Myrtle Beach as a family, it must be known not one single piece of sand will touch my body. As I have gotten older, my OCD tendencies seem to have increased and the thought of sand on my body and taking forever to get it off sends me into a conniption. And I really don’t do sun and heat outside. I plan to have a ball though shopping and finding some great places to eat. Are there any good restaurants in that area? We shall see.

• It is so pretty outside right now I want to ditch work tonight and just sit outside drinking some Merlot and finishing up Getting to Happy by Terry McMillan.

• I have another dish to post for you all. Still bored at home.

• I have a sunflower sprouting. That makes me smile.

• I am happy today. I will be happy all weekend. I will enjoy the beautiful weather. I will just be…

What I Took From NBCC 2010

The National Book Club Conference has been around for 8 years and I have attended 6 of the conferences. I missed the first one because I thought the price tag was too much for a conference billed as the “biggest book club conference in the world”. At the time, conferences were running about $100 - $175. And I was attending a conference several times a year. However, looking back and thinking about what is happening today, NBCC is one that has outlasted many of those other conferences.

This year some of the really big names were not in attendance, so I wasn’t expecting much, except some sleep and rest. What? When I can take a nap, baby, I will and I did. However, even with a smaller attendance it was a pretty good event. I mean how often do you have camera opts with an author as elusive as Zane. I didn’t take a picture with her, but I did take a picture where she was one of the subjects. How many of you have seen Drucilla aka Victoria Rowell up close? I have managed to see her several times. And let me tell you, she has good skin and a body a 20 year old would be jealous of and she is 51 years old. Although they failed to take an author group picture, there were several well-known authors in attendance. I would name them, but um just go to the website at http://www.nationalbookclubconference.com/ for the listing. There were self-publish and small press authors in attendance as well.

Last year, I remember rushing to get to the dining room because folks would save whole tables for their book club and if you didn’t get their early, you were SOL. This year we didn’t have that problem. I hate standing in line and I hate rushing. I know the small press and self-publish found that the room they were in was less profitable and less visible than the previous years. So I heard a few rumblings about that. However, as an attendee last year, I am glad I didn’t have to walk through numerous author booths because frankly it is intimidating. Most folks come with a limited budget and they surely cannot buy everyone’s book and sometimes the aggressiveness of the sellers was a bit much. I personally support self-published authors, but I am still finicky when it comes to spending my money so the book has to be of interest, have something appealing about it such as its cover or title and sometimes I take my time before I purchase anything. So not having to deal with the sometimes pushy sellers, was good for me and from what I hear several other folks as well. Folks didn’t like that we had only two meals. Frankly, it was okay with me. I got to eat when I was ready and what I wanted. Read my previous review of the Awards menu. Curtis and I are not on the same wavelength when it comes to food choices. But I know some attendees felt slighted. We got great bags this year, which didn’t seem as flimsy as last year. Sorry, but the last few years I was scared to really carry the tote because I thought it would break. This year’s was sturdy and better looking. Now we didn’t get as many free books as in previous years’, but we did get about 5 free books, who can resist “free” books. Um, dare I say that one book was the same as last years’? :::kanyeshrug::: The bookstore was Barnes and Nobles and they had a good supply of books, but when I saw several folks with Kindles I felt a little sad because many books weren’t going to be purchased. If you wanted books signed, it wasn’t as organized as in previous years because a lot of signings were being done impromptu. I don’t do lines, but I did want to talk to Pearl Cleage about the play and what book clubs could garner from it. I know more than a few folks were not happy with the hotel. Now as far as breakout sessions, it wasn’t ideal. I was in Karyn Nolan’s meeting and either next door or across the hall the folks were so loud we could barely hear ourselves think. And folks standing in the hallway of the breakout sessions weren’t considerate of those of us in the sessions because, although they were told to hang out in the area near the escalators, folks didn’t heed the directions so every time the doors opened the loudness of the hallway was incredible. I had a good room with a view. As mentioned already, the did a f-effort for the bathrooms, but my bed and room were comfortable. I do appreciate the free internet, because I used it faithfully. I wished more people had done like me and read the reviews because it would have given them a point of reference so they could have better rooms. I mean, serious, Curtis was put in the Radius tower. Now as the conference founder, I would have raised hell. LOL! There were plenty of places to get a quick bite to eat, even healthy items during the conference. There were a number of restaurants in walking distance as well. And no panhandlers. Yes! Thank you baby Jesus! Panhandlers are a scary bunch and can make anyone uncomfortable and fearful of going out at night.

I had a few memorable moments from the event including Marc Lacy trying to bully me into another event this year, Ntzoke Shange saying Madea wasn’t going to be in this one and Pearl Cleage’s stories about Bebe Moore Campbell. Eating crab legs watching Law & Order, working out while everyone else is getting ready to go out and looking out onto downtown Atlanta in wonderment and thinking, I wish we had this type of skyline at home. I am looking forward to next year with my book club members and all the good friends I have met at the conference.

The Walter Mosley Author of Distinction Award Dinner

Okay, the Red Carpet portion of this event was to start at 8:15 pm, why did they start before that time and at 8:15 pm, we were walking in for dinner. Yeah, I missed the Red Carpet which is great for picture taking, but I wasn't late, just not early enough. LOL!

Let me say this, Curtis really tries to make everything wonderful for us, but for some reason he always falls short with the meals. Geez, let a woman do it next time, please. I knew there was going to be a problem when the waitress looked perplexed when my dinner companions wanted their bread. Well the bread was corn bread. Even though I am from the south, I do not eat corn bread and when I saw that I was like, "Please, don't tell me we are having collard greens and fried chicken." Thank goodness there was no collard greens, but there sure was fried chicken. I haven't eaten fried chicken in months and wasn't sure I needed to eat any now. Not my favorite by any means. We had fried chicken, mash potatoes and green beans and for dessert some damn peach pie. By the way, I went to Hoot.ers for crab legs later that evening. I was not going to bed hungry. Seriously, why that menu? Ugh, but I suffered along with my dining companions during the meal and talked with Moses Miller about his books and being an author in this market.

The Award of Distinction went to Victoria Rowell, Drucilla of Young & the Restless. She gave a nice speech and a wonderful rap at the end, which you can see on her website. During this dinner, book clubs are honored for community service and their dedication to their group. Curtis' daughter performed for us prior to dinner her own compilations. She has a brilliant career ahead of her. Once the awards were done and Curtis was able to cry, as usual the event for me was over. I rarely stay long enough to participate in the Sunday events, because I contract this thing my family calls Johnitis after my late uncle. When we ready to go, we ready to go. After meeting one of my fellow reviewers from TRR, I headed back to my room to change and hit the streets, because my stomach was talking. Loud.

Next, what I took from the event.

Day 2 of the National Book Club Conference

I began the morning rested and ready to attend the Sharing Ourselves panel to begin my day. The panel included a psychologist, Sybil Wilkes, Wes Moore, Ntzoke Shange, Bernice McFadden and another gentleman who has worked in the prison system. All of the panel shared their story of depression and seeking mental health counseling as an African-American. Terri Williams headed the panel and kept the sharing going.

Bernice McFadden shared how the depression was crimpling to her even as she was awash in the her book deal. Sybil Wilkes shared how the death of her father and the death of her mother caused an unexplained feeling of loss within her and how she had to talk it out to move forward. Wes Moore talked about the death of his father and its affect and the other Wes Moore. Ntzoke Shange talked about her two strokes and several suicide attempts. She said she just wasn't good at it. The psychologist talked about losing her son, who was stillborn and the other gentleman talked about seeing so much in the prison system and how even at an early age he always felt like crying and how he didn't tell his family when he sought help. Terri Williams shared her depression story and the fact that on that very day she was depressed and even with the two rolls of tissue she learned to wear the mask and soldier on, but she knew where her depression came from and she knew rest was in order. Very powerful panel.

Then I purchased a t-shirt and books and walked through the self-published area. Took a picture with Tina McKinney and reminded her of who I was and my sister. Then it was on to my next panel of Souls of My Sisters. This panel was interesting because of the series of books and the stories these ladies tell of life and things that we have all experienced.

Then you know me. It was time for a nap and nap I did. LOL!

I then went to session with Karyn Nolan, whose book Don't Bring Home a White Boy. I wanted to get a perspective on her book and her life being married to a white man. What I garnered was she fell in love with a man who was her equal and everyone may not agree with crossing the color lines, one should be open to the possibilities of doing so. She acknowledge the issues her biracial child will endure and the difficulties of her teenage daughter is facing due to the union. She was frank and open.

Finally, I attended the What Makes Black Books Go in this Economy Panel. Let's just say it was interesting to hear the varying view points from those who have been published for a while, the newbies and the best sellers. Noting the electronic age is affecting the book industry, how we aren't sure yet. The topics ranged from getting our black guys to read to using the social networking sites in marketing. I enjoyed that panel as well.

I hung out with Tee of Rawsistaz for a bit and took pictures with and for Troy Johnson of AALBC.com. Check them out. Then it was time to rest before the nights festivities. The Walter Mosley Author of Distinction Awards Dinner. Wait until I tell you about that one.

National Book Club Conference - Day 1

When I arrived yesterday, I was sure to register early so I could kinda sleep in. So around and down two escalators I stood in line and of course, bless Curtis Bunn's heart, because I had registered early, my name wasn't on the list or rather wasn't were it needed to be. However, if anyone knows my history with Curtis, they know he and I have had a run in before, but we have mutual respect for each other. I didn't even get distressed. His words to me were, "Cashana, you always come alone." I told him my members were going to surprise him next year. LOL!

The conference started early. We had breakfast at 8:30 am. So after I scoured the coffee shop for my usual cafe mocha and went to the ballroom to begin my day. It was quite nice to meet some new people as well as old. Marc Lacy, author and poet from Huntsville, AL of course put me on the spot about doing another author event in Montgomery. I smiled each and every time he tried to corner me into doing it again. He said he would even return to the place he got lost trying to find. I couldn't break his heart at the table, but it will take a whole lot of changes and a calmness in my life in order for me to even consider doing another event. I can't.

During breakfast there was a tribute to E. Lynn Harris with his personal assistant, his aunt and one of his mentees. Very nice and touching. Karen Hunter of Karen Hunter Publishing sponsored the breakfast and talked about E. Lynn and Bebe Campbell Moore. The breakfast honors Moore with an award to a novelists and this year's honoree was none other than Pearl Cleage. I love this woman for so many reasons. She is just honest, eloquent and she always gives these wonderful speeches that make the hair on your arms stand up and a small tear to form. She talked about her friendship with Moore and their last meeting and the last message she left on her answering machine prior to her death. "Thank you for honoring me, by honoring her." Beautiful.

At the Terrie Williams Inspiration Award presentation, they honored the inspiring and reclusive Ntozake Shange of the fame play, "for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf". Ms. Shange came in with this draping dress, with the entire back out, which showcased the most beautiful back art/tattoo I have ever seen. She also came in with a cane and slurred speech. You see, Ms. Shange has suffered several strokes which initially kept her from walking and talking, but to see her standing before us and thanking us for loving and reading black books I just was full. She epitomizes so much and she was my defining moment so far of the conference. When asked about how she felt when Tyler Perry called her about making "for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf", she said, "I told him Mother Dear will not be in it." Enough said! Woot, Woot!

I went to a session or two and went to the bookstore. Didn't buy anything, but will tomorrow. Today I just wanted to take it easy. And you know my ass took a nap. LOL! I also walked/jogged 2.65 miles so I did get my exercise on. Now I am going to take a shower and read until I fall asleep. Nice.