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Monday, August 27, 2012

Sinus Problems, Rehearsals, and Concerts


This is going to be a short post.  I haven't been feeling well this week.  It started out simple enough with a stuffy nose and some sneezing.  I was feeling dizzy, running a fever, and actually having a little trouble breathing.  I drank lots of fluids, took some medicine, and managed to get myself dressed everyday and eat a little food. 


I didn't do anything worth posting until today.  I dragged myself out of the house for rehearsal with the cast of City Girls.  I am so excited about my project.  This was the first rehearsal with the entire cast.  It has been hard getting our schedules coordinated but finally having everybody there all at once was a blessing.  Charles is an extra special blessing.  Thank you for opening your home to us and for watching all the kids! 

I missed Kem's Mack and Third concert today.  I wanted to be there but I just couldn't get it together.  Frankie Beverly and Maze joined him for this free concert to benefit area homeless shelters and food banks.  Homelessness is a growing problem in our country and winter will be here before we know it.  I made a donation online at mackandthird.org  and I'm encouraging you to do the same.  It doesn't take very much to make a difference. 


Thank you for allowing me to share a part of my world with you.  
Please leave a comment and share with your friends.

April
~~~~~

Monday, August 20, 2012

Chopsticks, Cousins, and Live Performances

A friend invited me to celebrate her birthday at Benihana's this week.  I had never been there before but I love Asian Cuisine.  I was glad to join her.  The service was excellent!  I love going to places where the staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and yet professional at the same time.  The food was really good and I had more than enough to eat.  I will be going back despite my difficulties with the chopsticks. 

There were four people in our party so we shared a table with four people we didn't know.  I provided everybody with a lot of laughs because even though I love Asian Cuisine, I don't know how to use chopsticks.  I had a fork, but I was determined to use my chopsticks like everybody else.  I put forth a good effort but finally gave in and used my fork.  My food was looking and smelling entirely too good to be fooling around with the chopsticks for too long.

A Little Film
by 
Motowndiva

While enjoying my meal, I hear a voice that sounds somewhat familiar.  I turn around and it is my cousins Rodney and Dennis.  We hugged each other in the middle of the aisle like we hadn't seen each other in years instead of a couple of months.  They were stopping by to say farewell to Brandon, another cousin, who was seated at the table behind me!  I was too busy trying to master my chopsticks, so I didn't pay any attention to the people around us.

I am always running into my cousins.  We are a pretty close family and most of us like spending time with each other.  Rodney is such a sweetie pie.  When I introduced him to my friends, he invited them to his party next month.  I told my friends they should come because Rodney throws the best parties and it will definitely be a blast! 


My Niecy Pooh Pooh (she hates when I call her that and I try not to call her that in public but it's hard because I've been calling her Niecy Pooh Pooh for years) and her friends were featured performers at a local bar on Tuesday.  I've been listening to Niecy sing since before she could talk.  I've also seen her and her friends in a few stage productions.  I wasn't sure which of her friends she would be singing with that night because almost all of her friends are talented singers, musicians, and performers. 
Niecy and her friends (my honorary nieces) stepped on stage around 11:00 pm.  Six of my cousins were there with me to support her.  The girls sang for about 45 minutes.  This was my first time seeing these three girls sing as a trio.  They really showed out.  Everybody enjoyed the show.  I am so proud of her.  I'm also glad my family was in the place.  We had a great time.   


Thank you for allowing me to share a part of my world with you. 
Please leave a comment and share with your friends.

April
~~~~~


Monday, August 13, 2012

Book Trailers, Film Festivals, and Sparkle


This week went by so quickly!  I was super busy doing some of everything and nothing.  One of the major things I did was attend the Metro Detroit Literary Meet and Greet this Saturday.  This was my first time attending but it won't be my last. 

I already knew a few of the people that attended the Meet and Greet and now I know a few more of the talented people in the Detroit Literary Community.  Most of the people there were writers but there was also a good representation from people who offer support services to writers such as PR, marketing, editing, photography, publishing, etc.  There were several speakers that freely shared their knowledge with the attendees.  I'm talking about professional advice that you would normally pay to hear.

I came home with business cards, information, and some great ideas!  Unfortunately for me, I didn't come home with any of the  great prizes that were raffled off, including a Kindle Reader.  I would have loved that!  It was still a great event.  I hate that I had to rush out the door so I could get my little guy to his friend's birthday party.  I could have talked to everybody there, if time permitted!

Sylvia Hubbard reading the winning ticket number
Not mine ;-(
Before I get started on my new project, I have a couple of things I need to complete.  Besides City Girls, I have a few other things in the works, one of which is a Book Trailer.  I am meeting with the author Tuesday.  I've been researching book trailers all weekend and I can't wait to share some of my ideas with her.  I also need to get the last bit of editing done on Waffles.  Submission  deadlines are fast approaching for a few of the festivals.  I think I have a pretty good film and people will like it.  Once the festivals are done, it will be available for the public to view. 

I'm planning on attending the Trinity Film Coalition Film Festival next month.  My friend Malcolm X Johnson was one of the winners last year for his film The First Time I Committed Suicide.  


This Friday I will be going to see Sparkle.  I've been waiting for the release.  So many of my friends participated in making it and it is Whitney's last performance.  I loved the original film, I've probably seen it over a hundred times.  The soundtrack was killer and so far I'm loving the new soundtrack too.  I'll be going to a fundraiser showing so if you haven't made plans yet, come join us Friday night. 

Lastly, I want to say thanks to my friends Yaya, Klassic B, and Leslie for letting me hang out with them.  We had so much fun.  Do not be surprised if you see one of my films in the near future and some of the scenes remind you of Saturday.  Keep up the good posture ladies!

Thank you for allowing me to share a part of my world with you.  
Please leave a comment and share with your friends.

April
~~~~~


Monday, August 6, 2012

Books, Blogs, and Rehearsals


Whew!  What a weekend!  So much was going on this weekend and I tried to participate in all of it!  I'm only going to discuss a few of the many things that happened.

First of all, congratulations to "the girl".  She took her test for her next belt in martial arts this weekend and now she's the senior student in class.  My little guy missed the test because he is away at camp but he'll be home Wednesday and he will take his test Thursday.  I'm sure he will pass with flying colors too.


When Monica L. Jones invited me to her book event at the Franklin Athletic Club I was slightly confused.  I kept trying to figure out why she would have a book event there.  I had this image in my head that people would be lifting weights, riding the cycles, sweating and grunting right next to the table where she would be autographing books.  I knew it wasn't going to be like that for real but that's what kept popping into my head. 

To order go to  http://www.monicaljones.com/

Let me tell you, it was nothing like that.  The book event was held in the banquet room at the Franklin Athletic Club.  It is a beautiful room with gorgeous chandeliers and away from the activities.  Monica really turned it out.  The decorations were an athletic theme that matched the books' storyline, the food was good, and somehow Monica spoke to each one of the approximately 50 people that were in attendance.  She thanked everyone for attending and managed to say something special about each person in the room and a few people who weren't in the room.  Everyone mingled and had a good time.  I had to leave early but people were still coming when I left.  Before I left I made sure to have both of my books signed by the author.  Instead of just signing her name she wrote a personal message in each one for me. I love having my books autographed by the author.  It makes it easier to get them back if I let someone borrow them.

She had cake too!
  
Even though I haven't started reading Monica's books yet, I have been catching up on some of the blogs.  Sometimes we get caught up in things and forget what's really important.  Reading Ridiculous Hungry helped me get my perspective back on track and focus.  Also, the author is responsible for me making coconut lime cupcakes this weekend.  I needed to redeem myself after that mess with the waffle cookies.  I've modified the recipe and I'm still not happy with the results. I only ate two cupcakes, one Friday and one Saturday.  I managed to get the rest of them out of this house today.  There's only one left and I'm sure "the girl" will take care of it before today is over. 

Photo by "The Girl" and those are my hands

My cast ate the other cupcakes today at rehearsal.  These ladies are extremely talented.  Today's rehearsal had me feeling so good about City Girls.  Royce, the director of Waffles, is busy with his own project so Swift is directing City Girls.  Their styles are very different but I know I'm going to end up with a great finished product working with either one of them.  There are a couple of other directors I feel this way about too.  I'll save that for a future post. 

Thank you for allowing me to share a part of my world with you.  
Please leave a comment and share with your friends.

April
~~~~~