Pre-Birthday Musings...

This is the second year reading at the Chicago Poetry Fest...last year was a blast and I don't know why this year, would not be the same. It's a great event where you listen all day to all kinds of writers. Recently as I reviewed the updated book, Tears of a Woman: The Light Within, I got chills up my spine. I really enjoyed the fact that I have had some blessings relating to the book, not in book sales, but general feedback. A lot of people love the little book. All I wanted to do was to write something important. I'm currently waiting on two book reviews, one from a magazine, and one from a writer in the prison system. The last review gave the book four out of five stars,not too bad. I must admit, I haven't been too hard working on getting it into the stores, but after I finish formatting a few author books I will. God has given me a wide open schedule and I only will be working four days starting in October, as I start teaching again, so I will have time to go to some stores and drop off press kits, maybe this time will be different. My networks for marketing are different, as I am now a publisher and I have open channels that will get me where I need to go. Liquid Kisses is getting some love in Chicago and I need to reorder both books in September so I can be ready for literary events in the next few months. I want to move my novel out into the open next year, and hard at work to get that done as well. I will publish it in hard cover, and get a cover designed for it.

Summer 2006 travelling was fun, trips to Bradley University, Cal Poly, and Atlanta, all brought me into focus on my divine purpose. To empower, entertain, and inspire. I had a lot of fun networking with others. The Black Poetry Reunion (www.theblackpoetrycafe.com) was great. Meeting Mark Goggins and the crew (Starr, David Lockett, Ro and others...were great), next April we are going to converge in Chocolate City (DC)...so that should be fun.

Literary events are popping up for me in 2007 (yeah, already). I'm a confirmed panelist at the Brother 2 Brother Symposium, which will be in New Jersey next March 2007, I'm also waiting for confirmation on performing at Ladyfest South (in Decatur, GA) next January. Most likely will be at either the Harlem Book Fair, Printer's Row Book fair or Queens Book Fair in 2007. Need to promote a new title...from Osbey Books and that will keep me pretty busy.

This weekend all is great. I have 5 days to my birthday, family and friends keeping me busy as well as God. I am in a focus group this morning, then I have to interview an artist tonight for a magazine feature. Sunday I will be at the Chicago Poetry festival all day.

Thursday's my birthday, and I will have a 2 hour meeting, then several hanging outs with friends. Friday, a party in Gary Indiana for us VIRGOs, and the rest of the next weekend will be a blur, a mix between family and friends.

I have no time to feel "bluesy" about my b-day...as some might do. I am getting up there. But God's got this queen moving and grooving. I can't wait to get back into school I miss the babies.

Things I am musing on: leaving Chicago, picking a grad school and steps to get me to my ultimate goal by age 41. So I have a lot in my head. Also I want to get back into the studio and work on some tracks. I want to apply my song writing skills to some contests and also do some singing gigs.

All in the life of an ever evolving sister.

Anyway, have a blessed weekend. Do something special for yourself. Don't forget bout the village...they always need you.
\mocha sistah

Sights and Delights

This is the unofficial, official, Mocha Sistah weekend beat report. Served up Sunny Style on a Sunday.

Friday, on a misty Friday night.........I attended the 25 High School Reunion of Hirsch High School....on the Spirit of Chicago with my cuzn's Kim and Sheree, as they met up again with old classmates, went down memory lane with classmates on a Two and 1/2 Hour Boat Midnight Cruise that left Navy Pier...and circled mostly around the Lake Michigan area. Sheree flew up from Kansas where she lives with her two kids, and Kim lives right down the street from me. Around 11ish we made our way over to Navy Pier and waited for a classmates of Kim's at the spot in front of the boat. It was damp and dreary but for me, a free ticket to hang out with the cuzn's and chill. Sheree was dolled up in her Cream Colored Two-piece pant suit, while I chose a Sheer Black and White top with my Jazzy Blue Jeans and Silver open-toed sandals...and Kim topped off our group with an Island influenced summer dress and sandals. Although we waited a while to get into the boat, it was a quick journey up to the second level of the boat and the first person I saw entering the spot, was an old friend/co-worker who just so happened to be the deejay (Fabian N.) and a few beats later I was in the drink line and bumped into Frank (another former co-worker) and some of his Omega Psi Phi brothers. As I got to the table back with my cuzn's, and twirling on my weak Apple Martini, I glanced up to see Dawn, a classmate of mine's from Kenwood Academy who so happened to be on the same boat. We joked about our class reunion's heavy price...and our non-activity of it. As the music kicked in, Mocha got her groove on doing the Cha Cha slidddd.....e and then left the boat with cuzn's around 2:40 or so.

Saturday.....with Mom's.
My mom and I attended the Ravinia festival highlighting the 80th birthday of blues legend BB King and the show was opened up by Mavis Staples, another bluesy legend. Since we were smart enough to take the Metra train up, we avoided most of the traffic and we were able to catch an early train, which enable us to scope out a better spot near the front stage although we had lawn seats, Ravinia is designed where you can hear the artist whereever you are sitting. The night was overcast but didn't rain and we had a great time laughing at the some of the slightly drunk listeners sitting near us. We sipped on White Zinfindel and Red Wine; nibbled on Chicken Breast Sandwiches and assorted snacks. And even though we left a little early from the concert, we were able to get back downtown around 11:30 pm (Ravinia is in Highland Park, IL); eventually creeping back to my side of town around 12:30 am.

Sunday...with Mom's and my gurls.
My mom and I went to breakfast...5 Loaves Restaurant, a South Shore staple, where I chowed down on Buttermilk Pancakes and Mom's had a traditional breakfast (scrambled eggs and green peppers/onions) with toast and creamy grits. Mom's took a nap (at my crib) and I surfed the web...and fielded phone calls midmorning. A client kept calling me unsuccessfully I add (I do have to have some rest so I did not answer my phone)....Midafternoon, Mom's on her way back to the South Suburbs, gave her a hug and kiss and took my own nap. Around 4pm, my gurls came calling and got me up out of the house to the Alpha Phi Alpha Picnic where we kicked it with some of the Alphas and I realized I knew one of them...Brandon, who I worked with last weekend in California. Small small world. Anyway, the highlights were one of us gurls got some digits....it wasn't me (rolling eyes), and we chowed down on some fantastic rib tips, and sweets. Side dishes were gone by the time we got up in there. The weather was absolutely beautiful.

As I enter a new week, I'm hoping to finish one book and start another project. I got some new authors and returning ones. It's back to the grind. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I will.

-- Mocha Sistah

Stuck in the Past and More...

I get this sooo often, "I know you." The statement dripped off this cute older patron at the Southside Seafood Restaurant on Tuesday as I stopped by there to get a bit to eat. She had curly hair, a jazzy black suit on, and those glasses that her brown eyes appealed to mines. I shook my head, trying to figure out where, did I know her from. As I sat and browsed magazines, she asked me again, "Didn't you go to Kenwood Academy?" I nodded acknowledging that I had graduated in 198_...U know Im not telling you, right. Anyway, she mentioned that I used to be the "coupon girl" and I laughed, not even remembering. I think as I went to KA, I was like my mom's assistant so I probably was clipping coupons in the class. Well, all this conversation was with...if you haven't guessed by now, my Senior High School Typing Teacher. I sucked at typing and I used to spend a lot of time talking in that class.

It was weird seeing her twenty years later...but she looked the same. She mentioned I was "skinny" then but was chunkier now. Okay, it was cool though. She was really impressed with my accomplishments. I was stuck in the past, remembering, I hated high school, but I got through it.

Isn't it funny how getting stuck in the past can hinder you. For me, that conversation was a nice through back. As I had a chance to talk with my former teacher, I realized, that I've done a heck of a lot with just a little - faith, love, and acceptance of my God-given abilities. I graduated with a 1.8 GPA, yep, that's right. And one year later when I transferred to Columbia College (don't ask how I got in with that GPA), I was an honor student with a 3.8 GPA, then I transferred to Grambling State University to finish off my journey.

I really didn't know what I was going to do in College, but I applied myself and quickly figured out English was the way to go. I began writing poetry around the age of eighteen and since that moment, could not stop.

I'm glad I didn't let my 1.8 hinder me, for I knew that I was not a "dummy" but I had allowed life issues with my past hinder me and stop my progression, sort of like most students I work with in the schools now.

I only use myself as a living testimony, that with a little you can do a lot. Life gets hard, and choices have to be made. All you can do is the best you can do and push on. Pray. Until. Something. Happens. Use your God-given ability and of course, your family, your community, your enemies, your energies, to do a lot.

It can help push you on. But staying stuck in the past, not dealing with your issues, or trying to figure out how to get yourself to the next level, can be something that keeps you glued to the negativity.

I hope you find this blog of use and if you have suggestions on how being stuck in the past...can hinder progression in life, please share below.

Be blessed,
Mocha Sistah

Tell Me Something:PHAT or FAT

Question of the week: PHAT or fat.

I was receiving messages this week from a guy (internet dating...again) and he asked me what the difference between fat or extra pounds was. He told me how much he weighed and I thought this "foine" man is asking me...if it's okay to talk with him because he thinks he is FAT> yes, he described himself as fat. He's in the two hundreds but I like my men, thick so that was not an issue with me. I told him my weight and he declared, "you are cute...only a few extra pds".

So I wondered, what's the difference between fat, extra pounds, or phat. I consider myself pretty hot and tempting = phat with some extra pounds. I only had 2 guys in the last year tell me they don't like women with "extra pds". It don't matter to me. I feel comfortable in my skin. I don't have a problem if a brother wants to date some other eye-candy because i'm not "cute" or "fit enough".

I feel it's more than a person's weight anyway, but I know people have there preference.

What's your two cents on this subject? As for me, I can't tell you how many foine men, have approached me...or non-"cute" guys...because of my personality and how I carry myself. I am me. I don't have low self-esteem when it comes to my body. I feel very good about myself as a woman. I don't have to "throw" myself at a man..or anything like that. I know I'm attractive, however, I am not stuck on the mirror and my down to earth personality wins them over every time....like I said, I don't care to focus on "my size". I am who I am. I'm a thick gurl. I embrace that. I like it. And so does a lot of men who I come across daily.

The flip side of the body...are deeper things like a person's substance, and other things like personality, how a person carries themselves, what their morals are...are more important that some one just cute...or foine. Cuz...they could have an ugly personality, or way about them that would leave a bad taste in your mouth.

Please leave comments in the guestbook.,..Thanks!

Mocha Sistah