June 25, 2009

I just don't know what to say...

I love you, Michael Jackson! The gift God gave you was and is still so awesome. I'm glad you're getting the rest you deserve.

Contributing Writers

You see this magazine cover? Behind the cover (and almost 70 pages past it) is something that I wrote. About 130 words (65 a piece) with my full name in the byline in the first and my initials in the second one. This week started to be pretty dismal, but when my mom called to tell me my very own copy had come in the mail, it got better. Now all I need is the check. The byline and knowing that I've contributed to such a great magazine (this issue is pretty hot, btw.) are enough.

The blurbs are under UPTOWN Flavor, Smokin' Hot, featuring the best barbecue spots in major cities. You know they couldn't forget about the BBQ Capital, Memphis, Tenn.!

So that's it. My latest contribution to journalism (no matter how small).

Check out Aliya's latest blog and discussion on the fate of journalism and writers-to-be.

By the way, I'm on Twitter @Alisha8151.

Bye!

Random

I just realized that everytime I decide to blog, I procrastinate because it seems like it takes so much out of me to write about what's going on. Therefore, I have decided to write super-short blogs about...whatever comes to mind. For example, right now I'm wondering why I came in to work today (other than being thankful that I have a job). I could so be chillaxin in my bed right now. Or how about I just left the country for my aunt's funeral yesterday. It was kinda sad, as it was unexpected, but I had fun being around family--no matter how awkward it was (Too much background to be shared).

My hair looks a mess (I blame Louisiana!). I look like I came straight outta the 60s. Eww. Saw the Unsung special on Minnie Riperton last night. It was pretty sad. I downloaded a few songs. I think Teedra Moses should portray her in a move or something. Check this one out: Le Fleur

Les Fleurs - Minnie Riperton

Ahem!

Like a thief in the night, I appear! I'm back kids. That cliche' was so inappropriate as I am living in a house alone and I REALLY don't want a thief to come in the night. Not even if it's God himself. I ain't ready to go!

Yep, I after days of agonizing, waiting and praying (for patience), I am a homeowner. I'm up in that piece. I'm also still in my apartment. Well, my clothes are. It's a crime and a shame how many clothes and shoes I have. The walk-in closet at the house is already full. Time to go to Goodwill.

The first night I slept in the house, I was so tired, I didn't even bother being scared. I woke up and felt like I was in a hotel. Reality set it that the place was mine, I immediately broke out into a prayer of thanks. A few tears fell. Yeah, I'm just emotional like that.

Next up, tracking down the yard man because the grass needs to be cut badly. (I have good, pretty, green grass, too! Don't be jealous!) I can't let my nosy neighbors think I'm trifling.

Okay, I had to write this down so I can see it and actually do it.

As I'm awaiting a copy of UPTOWN's Summer issue with my little 60 word blurb and byline, I realized that I love to write. It is my passion, but I haven't been serious about it. I have been very successful over just two years in getting great clips from awesome publications, but I need to put some more work in.

I write electronically, but that does not make me tech savvy. I only use the computer for work and downloading music. So the task of creating a website has been last on the list. Yet, it's so necessary. Remember my Pitch Me! post on Aliya's blog? Better yet, remember this comment from an editor?

But the major error is referring clip viewing to MySpace. No, no, no, I can’t take that serious. MySpace is viewed as very juvenile. If you can’t set up a site of your own for clips than provide links or say you can furnish clips upon request, or make a section on your blog specifically for clip viewing. But the MySpace link seems low brow. If I bothered to look, I would be biased to say the least.

This is what I have now and I'm ashamed to say, but it hasn't even been updated in God's knows when. I'm about to delete my personal Myspace account, so surely I can't refer editors to THAT.

So...I'm working on a website. Seriously. A website is so much more, eh, official than a blogspot. I was inspired by Belle's new home and Jeannine Amber's site (Love the homepage pic--so much better than a boring headshot). Check out Danyel Smith's (EIC of Vibe)interactive memoir, Naked Cartwheels. Now that's hot.

It's time for me to step my game up.

Case of the Mondays

I'm in an uncomfortable mood today. Don't know quite know how to explain it, so I'll just leave it there. My mind is moving at warp speed these days. I feel like I need another vacation, but there's no time for it. Summer is about to be busy, busy. Here's what's been going on:

1. I'm buying a house...like this week. Yes, yes, I stepped out on faith (after pre-approval) and signed a contract to buy a house. I love it! The only problem is it's taking a little longer than I thought to close the deal. Chalk it up to that impatient thing that I'm trying to work on. But also, attribute that to some of my uneasiness. Let's get it over, already! My apartment is a mess, I've been on the phone with the utility/cable/phone people all morning. I swear that I hate automated systems!!!

2. The time of the month (also referred to by my old college roommate as "Keisha") has me down, down, down. I need some relief. ASAP.

3. I went to Jazzfest last month and had a great time with my friends and linesisters. Everyone is so blessed in one way or another. It's like it's contagious.

4. Work is about to get crazy within the next month. I won't even go into details.

5. I'm trying desperately hard to save my money (atleast until I get paid on Friday) and not buy this hot pair of shoes that I saw in Macy's.

6. I had my cholesterol checked at a women's fair this weekend. It's 200. NOT GOOD. Pair that with my family history of heart failure and we've got a problem. I'm trying from this day forward to exercise and eat better. I guess skinny folks can't eat whatever they want.

7. I heart Drake. Maybe it's his connection to Memphis. Or the fact that he raps and sings. Maybe he's just hot. If I listen to So Far Gone one more time!!!

Signing out!

Umm, Yeah...

I've been wanting to write something random for the longest, but I just haven't had the inspiration. I still don't, really, but here goes.

The Latest Developments

I am insane. You know the clinical definition of insanity, don't you? Doing the same thing over and over, yet expecting different results.

Yep, that was me a couple of weeks ago. Well, I wasn't actually expecting different results. My reaction to the situation was different, which is GREAT. My problem, moreso, is doing the same things over and over. Let's try something new to keep from getting into these situations.

Next week, I will log on to www.blackpeoplemeet.com. And actually pay the $10 to see the people. Yeah, I'll let you know how that turns out.

This weekend I'm off to the Boot finally. A brief stop in BR and then to the N.O. for Jazzfest. How is it possible that I lived there for five years and never attended? Weird. I'm so ready to have some fun and enjoy the warm weather. It's still cold here (to me). Can I wear my maxi dresses and sandals, please???

I'm on Twitter. I guess I'm still a rookie because I have not yet reaped all the benefits that these article suggest as a member. But I'll be damned if Diddy isn't twittering-est, inspirational, energetic dude in the world! He tweets like every minute. Gotta love it.

Damn, That Hurt!

I'm supposed to be grading papers before I leave work at 5 p.m., but it ain't happening. Instead, I'm reading Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I said that I wouldn't buy it because it's enough literature and interviews and discussion boards out there to give me the whole shebang without ever hitting the bookstore. Well, I'm reading it, but I didn't buy it. My linesister sent it to me in PDF. Shout to the Grab Bag of Alpha Tau, Spring 2003 (We're six years old today.)!

I hate to admit it and I knew it was true, but to an unimportant-important person, I was what Steve calls, the "sports fish." It makes me cringe to know that that's probably how I put myself out there, hence the down-spiraling relationship---ahem, situation. Read this:

Doesn’t have any rules, requirements, respect for herself, or guidelines, and we men can pick up her scent a mile away. She’s the party girl who takes a sip of her Long Island iced tea or a
shot of her Patrón, then announces to her suitor that she just wants to “date and see how it goes,” and she’s the conservatively dressed woman at the office who is a master at networking, but clueless about how to approach men. She has no plans for any
ongoing relationships, is not expecting anything in particular from a man, and sets absolutely not nary one condition or restriction on anyone standing before her—she makes it very clear that she’s just along for whatever is getting ready to happen.

For sure, as soon as she lets a man know through words and action
that he can treat her just any old kind of way, he will do just
that. Men will stand in line to sign up for that, believe me.

I cringe at the thought that for so long, unbeknowst to me, I was giving him the green light to act a fool. Granted, I was young (and dumb), but the real reason a woman says these words is because it's preventing her from saying the real deal, "Hey, dude, I would like to pursue something real; therefore, I'm opening myself up to the possibility of something that works or something that can leave me hurt or disappointed."

Maybe that was just me though.

At this age, though, I have finally figured out that I have to be deliberate with this ish! I have decided to raise my standards and that starts today.