Good Guys Wear Black

It's been a long time. I shouldn't have left you. I have been so busy maintaining all that I have going on that some things had to take a back seat. TLA Writes happened to be one those things, but I'm not going to make it a habit. Updating this blog is one of the things that makes me happy. Its like talking to a friend that can't respond. Not that I don't like the benefits of back and forth conversation, but you get my drift. I just thought up a plan that would let me have a regular posting schedule, so I'll test it out and we'll see what happens.

This has been an incredible week for news. On September 20th the Jena 6 protest march brought thousands of people from all over the country to the court house steps in Jena, Louisiana. As I sat at my desk dressed in my solidarity black listening to the live broadcast, the positive energy of the movement penetrated me through the airwaves. Although there were a few ignorant folks who weren't too supportive, that didn't dampen the spirit of the march for me. I was proud. The attention didn't get Mychal Bell released, but the somewhat limited national media coverage has proven to be a boon to the cause. Hopefully, this case won't disappear into the "whatever happened with that case" file. It's not too late to show your support. Sign the petition to the justice department or the governor of Louisiana. This site has letters already written for you and after you complete one you to can make a donation to the defense fund. Shouts to Michael Baisden, Steve Harvey, Tom Joyner, and Mos Def for representing for the cause. Respect.

What did get plenty o' coverage was that fool OJ. Does anyone else think OJ kicked in the door and got straight gangsta on some mofos? If you don't know, read part of the transcript. We all know Orenthal has unresolved anger management issues, but kickin' in the door to lay the smack down on some audio taping thieves seems a little fishy. I'm not saying OJ was right to do what he allegedly did, but I don't think too many people dealing in stolen items want their business transactions on TMZ for the world to hear. Yeah, he shouldn't have been there but just like the Hip Hop police you best believe OJ has some brothers in blue watching him too. Good luck with that O. Johnnie C. can't get you out of this one.

I pitched a few story ideas to XXL last week and I'm waiting to hear back. I sent, they replied. They asked for more details. I gave them. Now the waiting game begins. My editor said be patient, so that's what I'm going to do. I did some final edits on another one of my shorts, so this week I'll look for a literary magazine to submit to and see what happens. I learned a while ago that a big part of the writing game, once your done with a piece, you spend time waiting to see if your work is publish worthy. I get confirmation that I am when I see a piece that I've written up on AllHipHop.com. More projects are coming, but I have to stay mum on them for now. Networking pays off. Trust me.

In the meantime, I'll have to keep figuring out new ways to keep my composure while spending eight hours a day, five days a week, working with someone I don't quite gel with. The day job has served me well by giving me a short commute, allowing me to meet some nice people, and helping me pay some bills. Now its time to move on and my eyes are definitely open. Hopefully, I'll keep getting more and more paid writing assignments and that will lead to bigger and better creative adventures for me.

Speaking of adventures, I'm about to embark on a huge one tomorrow. I'm talking HUGE. So huge that when I went out to dinner tonight my family ordered a sparkler on my desert to celebrate. I'll fill you in with details in two weeks, but if all goes well, this could prove to be that big thing that I predicted was coming in my last post. I'm a visionary in case you didn't know.

Congrats to Steph & Jim on bringing their third little person into the world, and my life, last Friday. You've got some fantastic parents Liam, so consider yourself blessed.

Aight, I'm out. My Mama's here and I need some hugs. Nothing like in person motherly love to get me through the week. Until next time, ladies get your Million Woman March reunion crew together and make it happen. Can you believe its been 10 years? And just so you know, I wasn't kidding about this t-shirt. Help a sista out. The holidays are just around the corner.

Sign O' The Times

What a week, what a week. Shaunie & Shaq are breaking up, Pavarotti passed away, Foxy got sentenced to a year at Rikers, and microwaved Orville Redenbacher is straight makin' folks sick. It wasn't a stretch for me to believe that synthetic butter flavored popcorn kernels held captive in a bag with a six month shelf life could lead to illness. After all these are the days of e coli tainted spinach and hormone filled cows. It was only a matter of time before something as simple as dried corn kernels got included on the list of harmful chemically enhanced food items. I'm sad for you popcorn imbibers of the world, but cheer up. Once the Whole Foods merger is complete, you'll be able to get your organic shop on at a store near you. Say goodbye to cheap corn and hello to pricey organic delicacies. To eat is human, to go organic is divine. Whatever. I'm still going to eat Twizzlers.

I was happy to see that the number of people heading down for the Jena Six Rally for Peace and Justice is increasing by the minute. Mark my words, this rally is going to be a historical civil rights event. I'm talking March on Washington proportions. If you can go, get on the bus. Carpool. Fly down. Take the kids too. And if you can't be there in person, be there in spirit and sign the petition. Erascism while fighting the power. Uplift the race. Do the right thing. Let's make everyone who has fought for civil rights proud and show the world how the originators did it. No justice, no peace.

Speaking of pride, anyone catch this video on BET yet? One night I was flipping channels and caught the tail end of something I thought was a joke. Actually, its a message that needs to be heard, but we all know presentation is half the battle when trying to make a statement to the masses. Although I didn't have a problem with the message, perhaps a cartoon image of a booty shakin' woman of color with the word 'book' on her butt may not have been the way to go. Although the brother that came up with the lyrics & music (not the animation, thank BET for that) defended his intentions on CNN, it may have fallen on deaf ears. Claiming to send a positive message while asking folks to "read a motherf**kin' book" kind of killed it for me. The message was meaty for sure, but don't put filet mignon on a garbage can lid and tell me its really good for me. Its all about presentation. Yeah I get that controversy breeds conversation and word of mouth can generate income. But for those of us that appreciate receiving our subliminal visual lectures sans stereotypical negative imagery, step it up BET. After all you said it best--"we gots to do better".

I wish I could tell you the name of my new short. It turned out so well I was really proud of myself. You know its true the more you write, the better you get. Let me revise that statement. The more I write, the better I get. I finished up an interview this week that should be up soon. I have one more waiting in the wings, but I think I'll have to go with Plan B on that and give it to another source. I can't wait forever to hear back from a mag after I've pitched an idea. Although my week was hectic, I managed to send out eight queries so we'll see what happens with that. I need to stay focused so that I can make a career change soon. Going in to work has become more of a personal challenge than I ever imagined it could be, so somethings gotta give. Spending my days with a person that reads aloud, fights personal drama via the phonelines daily, and constantly calls the help desk to receive one on one instruction on how to work "this darn computer", is not the move. I keep getting this feeling that something big is in store. I feel like Tony when he sang Something's Coming from West Side Story. Time always tells, so I have to listen for when it starts talking.

I finally unloaded the last of my CD's into a new rack I bought. Of course I got in reminisce DJ mode and had to play things I hadn't heard in a while. I decided to take out my Adriana Evans CD and blast it while I ran errands. 'Love Is All Around' was my cut! I wonder whats up with her now. Right now I have Common's Finding Forever and the Superfly soundtrack in heavy rotation. Curtis Mayfield had one of those voices that just got me me. Donny Hathaway too. I guess that's why I always have one or the other in my car at all times. When I click track seven on The Donny Hathaway Collection or track five on the Superfly soundtrack, whatever is going on good becomes better and anything heavy on my mind becomes lighter. Good music does that for me. What about you?

Last night I watched most of Justin Timberlake's Labor Day concert at the Garden on HBO. I have to give it to Justin, he put on a great show. Visually, he took it another level, the dancers were fantastic, and the band was fire. I was even more pleased with Jus to see he has an ear for good singers when I caught multiple glimpses of Denosh from Makin' Da Band on stage as one of his background singers. She has a lot of talent and I was glad to see she didn't stop despite not making da band. Diddy's loss was Justin's gain. He's scheduled to perform at the VMA's tonight although I'm not sure if I'll watch it today or one of the other 12 times it airs. Nonetheless, I'm sure I'll see it.

Oh yeah, I need to answer the question posed on my last post. For those just tuning in I asked, "What would you attempt if you knew you couldn't fail?" My answer is EVERYTHING. If I have nothing to lose, why not try it all? Duh.

Well I'm off to get my magazine fix. I got my new XXL, Vibe, and Time Out New York yesterday. Its like early Christmas several times a month thanks to you Mr. Mailman. Postal workers bring joy. Stop laughing. They do. Really.