Parting is such sweet sorrow . . que the tears!

Wow, my blog is fairly new, yet I skip a few weeks of posting regularly & I receive so many nice & concerned "what's up with that" e-mails! How sweet of you to ask about moi! It's tres appreciated.

Actually, life is "gettin in the waaaaay of what I'm feelin", to quote the talented Jilly from Philly. If you don't know who Jilly is, STOP right there! Now, click on the link, take a look around & get acquainted. I'll wait..... Ok, you ready... let's roll.

So, I promise to return soon & update you with the latest this & that. It's an untimely departure with so much going on in the juicey world of entertainment. With the "Dancing with the Stars" finale fast approaching (go Emmitt!), Tom dissin Lady O (how dare he) & all the sad yet expected break-ups from Reese & Ryan (ok, that was surprising) to Britney & K-Dread (yeah, okay - that's about as surpising as Nicole Richie's secret gastric bypass surgery)

BTW, that K-Dread thing, that's all me - no duplication there, I came up with that, go ahead, share it but source U.B.A aiight?

Ok, till we meet again - better than ever - I leave with you with a few lyrical gems!



Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon. ~Doug Larson


When it comes to eating right and exercising, there is no "I'll start tomorrow." Tomorrow is disease. ~V.L. Allineare

Peep my Princess Style!

I'm not really a handbag kinda girl. I find the price of Coach, Prada & Gucci to be ridiculous because at the end of the day, it's just a bag! I know I'll get flack for this since some women LIVE for the latest release by these labels & there's hundreds of bag blogs to prove it! Anyhoo, according to this fun little quiz, I've got Princess style when it comes to handbags.

Check my results below & CLICK HERE to take the quiz yourself.

You’ve got Princess style!

Your regal hankering for handbags showcases the best of the high-low mix, much like Tinseltown’s fashionable royalty Jennifer Aniston, Teri Hatcher, and Paris Hilton. From designer satchels to niche-brand carryalls, you know how to put it all together for a classic, stylish effect.



Ok, moving on to some looks I'm feeling at the moment!


This dress is so classic but so versatile at the same time. Love it!

Laundry by Shelli Segal Matte Jersey Dress

This pump is sexy & sophisticated! You can easily pair it with a simple suit or lovely little dress for a business lunch. A nice clutch & some pearl earrings would add that "Breakfast at Tiffany's" feel. Tres adorable!

Being a lady all day can be exhausting for some, so slap on these suckers with a pair of dark denim jeans, a sexy halter chemise with a cute shrunken blazer, some hot hoops, soft curls & crimson lips for a fun night out! Toot, toot, hey, beep, beep!!! Remember that diddy? No, not Puff Daddy! Diddy as in song... nevamind

GUESS? 'Merri' Sandal

Now, these are LOVELY because I ADORE the color. Don't hide these under slacks. They deserve to be shown. Keep the outfit simple, grab a bronze clutch & dazzle em!

Salvatore Ferragamo 'Tiberia' Pump

I like these boots but I'm not 100% sure why. Maybe I'm just hesitant because their by Jessica..

Jessica Simpson 'Jacky' Boot

If these were a different color, would I think they were ugly? Hmmm

Jessica Simpson 'Sabria' Pump

I like this handbag. It's kinda upscale doctor's bag meets night out with the girls. Classy medicinal if you will?!

eElliott Luca "Luxe" Satchel

According to THIS, I'm a STRAIGHT SHOOTER when it comes to my guy! Tell me something I don't know. Although I loved the reference to 1940's movie banter, so my thing!!

Take the quiz to check your GF persona. Might be surprised!

Here's the rest of my girlfriend style:

The Straight Shooter:

You've got a good mix of sass and sensitivity. Sure, sometimes he annoys you. But you do your best to finesse it with a sense of humor and the knowledge that, hey, he's only human. You know a good relationship is like 1940s movie banter -- it's all about the back and forth. Balance is key to you, and you excel at being a peacemaker and solving problems with a firm, but loving, hand. (And, let's face it -- a hand with a nice manicure.)

Okay, so this is kinda old news but it's too sweet not to share!

WAIT !! I was all set to gush over the sweetness of this story since I've had it in my files for a minute but then I spotted this pic (below) & I wondered what bride would want to include what appears to be a 'CENTERFOLD SHOT' as part of her wedding album?? I mean, honestly, the wedding album is seen by so many people, like her family as well as the grooms!

Lawd, what in the world will Big Mama think?! Maybe that her baby boy is marrying a hussy?!

Then, I noticed not 1 but 2 nudy shots of Mrs. Tracy McGrady in their wedding video! I can just hear the elders snickering while watching the video at the family gathering.

"Hmph, & to think, she had the neerrrrve to wear white?" "I tried to tell that boy she ain't right."

Well, at least the featured song was classy. It's one of my favorites, sung by the great Diana Krall. But, after seeing the below pic of the bride & then another thong shot in the video, I wondered if "Laffy Taffy" would have been more appropriate? Dang, no wonder they didn't get married in a church! Ooops, did I say that!? Form your own opinion, click on the link below to check out the wedding video!

Click here to watch the wedding video & read the adorable write up on their nuptials below:


NBA player Tracy McGrady of the Houston Rockets married his longtime girlfriend, CleRenda Harris.


The couple, who dated for 10 years, were married in Los Cabos, Mexico, on the beach in front of 40 guests, including McGrady's teammate Juwan Howard. Pastor Kirby John Caldwell, who delivered the prayer at President Bush's inauguration, officiated.

The couple's daughter, Layla, 3, served as flower girl. McGrady, whose nickname in the NBA is "T-Mac," carried his 9-month-old son, Layman, down the aisle to "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

"It was the cutest moment," wedding planner Mindy Weiss tells PEOPLE. "The weather changed completely right before they walked down the aisle. It suddenly got cooler and a breeze came in from the ocean. It felt surreal. It exceeded any expectations. They're so excited to finally be married."



Defintely, NOT AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL:

And everyone thinks the life of a model is SOOO easy....... CLICK HERE for what has got to be a really tough day for one model in particular!



Till next time, enjoy this mint of a quote.. .. ..

The goal to turn a gold-digger into a housewife is one that is never successfully fulfilled. Women who seek a life of excess are the ultimate hustlers, with a game plan which rivals that of any pimp. Their intellectual savvy coupled with undetected manipulative game-play renders even the most carefully calculated player completely brain-numb. This is in fact the reason why gold-diggers never go out of style, for man will die in his relentless pursuit of this unachievable task.

For man, the chase is always so much sweeter than the reward. The reward being, an arm trophy, some eye candy, a lifetime of headaches and a helluva story to tell on his deathbed.

- Urbynpoet7

Chow baby!

Violence is NEVER the answer!

I'm against the war. I'm not overly political or religious & I don't label myself as a liberal although my views are considered far from traditionalist conservatism. I oppose war due to the fact that so many innocent people die. Any life lost is a tragedy no matter how despicable the crime or the perpetrator simply because everyone, whether idiot or saint, has someone who suffers when they die. Having said that, I understand the position of sacrificing one life in order to save thousands as in the case of the 911 terrorists. Unfortunate but necessary.

Another act of violence which disturbs & infuriates me is domestic (click on the above pic to view the cycle in its many forms). Every 10 seconds a woman is abused at the hands of her partner. The act of violence in itself is an issue of control & beating a woman is undoubtedly an issue of control fueled by insecurity. To feel so insecure in your ability to maintain your relationship that you have to succumb to violence is PATHETIC. When I recently heard about THIS STORY, I was sickened by the fact that a grown ass man would force his 13 year old son to videotape him verbally assaulting his wife before smacking her, throwing her to the floor and kicking her.

The assault resulted in 51 minutes of footage. Later that evening, the husband/father played the tape for his three kids to demonstrate why he beat their mother. He paused the tape several times to highlight moments where their mother pissed him off to the point of violence, which righteously justified the swollen bruises on her face & body! By doing so, he felt he was "educating" his kids, I guess.

In addition to the beatings, which unlike many abusive relationships, started almost a decade into the marriage, his wife was "timed" on how long it took her to return home after leaving work. She was also ordered to call her husband "master". She was slowly alienated from her friends & family. Fortunately, she had a concerned boss who kept detailed notes of each time she saw bruises on Susan and eventually helped her leave this arrogant, madman. The abusive asshole was eventually sentenced to 36 years in prison, which is the longest sentencing in New York history for domestic-violence in which the victim was not killed.

To date, the wife focuses on spreading domestic-violence awareness by presenting the video at police academies in order to put a personal face on this epidemic.

As I watched the footage of abuse, I noticed the son often turned the camera away from his parents at the exact moment his father slapped or kicked his mom. I could only imagine what must've been going through his young mind. Those images will never leave him, that's for sure.

It also saddens me to know that had the tape not existed, had her boss been less observant or concerned for her employee's life, Susan may not be here today. Her three children would most likely be parentless with a past filled with haunting memories of violence that lead to their mother's demise and a future dark with uncertainty. Not to mention, the extreme possibility that they too may repeat the cyle of either abusing or being a victim of abuse at some point in their lives.

I honestly don't think there's a single American family that has not been affected by domestic violence at some point in its history. We all have an aunt, cousin, parent, or distant relative who has been a victim of this senseless, controlling act brewed from insecurity. Whether it's talked about, swept under the rug or addressed head-on is the issue. It's such a touchy subject because intervening can be dangerous especially when so many women refuse to leave.

"Domestic violence does not only happen to adults. Forty percent of girls age 14 to 17 report knowing someone their age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend, and approximately one in five female high school students reports being physically and/or sexually abused by a dating partner".

Fortunately, my mother raised my sister and me (yes, that's grammatically correct) with a strong sense of self. I think that's important for every young woman to have. If you don't develop a sense of moral values as a young woman, you run the risk of leaving yourself open to being treated like shit as an adult.

I talk to my younger cousins & nieces all the time about the importance of respecting themselves and having self-esteem. If you don't know who you are and what's important to you, it's easy to find a chauvinistic man-child more than happy to provide you with that definition in the form of degradation, disrespect and abuse.

Remember the ole' saying, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything." Well, it's a fact and it's up to adults to educate the youth on respect for self as well as others. The state of our future depends on it!

This post is long enough as it is but I could say more about the legal system & how the laws against Domestic Violence are not strong enough. THE LAWS TO PROTECT WOMEN WHO LIVE AT THE HANDS OF AN ABUSER ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH!! She basically has to be killed in order for a justifiable punishment to take place which further explains why so many victims are afraid to leave. Many abused women are so cut-off from a support system that they have nowhere to turn and with the justice system failing to provide a way out; they stay & continue to endure the abuse which will only intensify if she attempts to call the police for help. After the abuser is arrested and forced to spend 1 measly night in jail, what do you think will happen when he returns to the home that she can't afford to leave considering she had only one night to plan her permanent escape? C'mon now, she'll endure the beating of her life on top of the previous beating that lead to his arrest the day before.

The laws need to change, but with so many career politicians on their own agenda of false promises, corrupt politicking and lashing out at their opponents in an ugly merry-go-round of the "blame game", who has the time to tend to the REAL matters at hand? Our world is in so much trouble . . . but that's a topic for another day.

If you or someone you know is involved in a domestic violence relationship, or if you want to learn more about it, please call The National Domestic Violence Hotline, open 24-hours a day, at 1-800-799-SAFE or click here

I promise to return soon with something a lil less heavy. I just needed to scribe about this here topic, because in a less politically correct manner - thiz bullshit really pisses me off!

I leave you with these:

Quotes of the day:

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent.
Salvor Hardin

So, these political activities will create friction in and of themselves, and in this environment of friction there'll be additional violence.
John Abizaid

Chow

It's Time To Talk Beauty!

Lately, I've been dishing on the latest celeb chat but I wouldn't be worthy of my blog title if I went tooooo long without discussing my ultimate addiction! So, without further delay, let's talk beaute' shall we?

It's rare I try a product that I love from start to finish. I often buy products & end up giving them away to my fam or friends because they simply don't meet my simple requirement of "doing what it says it will do". Afterall, who wants to buy a product for acne prevention only to find it makes your skin worse?!? What's the point? I can't stand it when a product promises dramatic results only to find out it doesn't even come close. Simply irritating. So, I was delighted to find the Steep Clean Cleansing Milk by Bliss delivered on its promise without fail.

Steep Clean is a deep pore cleanser for oily/congested complexions & from the very first use, it did just that. My pores got smaller with each use & my skin just felt clean every time. Initially, I wasn't thrilled with the blue "detergenty" color nor the smell but I barely notice the scent now. This is my daytime cleanser & although I just ran out, I'm adding this product to my "REPURCHASE" file for future reference. It's a must buy for oily/acne prone types!!

If you're a true girly girl beautaaaay addict, then you know pedicures are a treat but who has time or the loot to shell out $40 or more each month for such an indulgence. Honestly, nowadays, it's all too easy easy to find simple steps to recreate this spa treat in the privacy of your own home. I love to treat myself to a relaxing pedi (*Mario Tricoci offers a Shea Silk pedi to die for - - honest!) during the summer months but it's more of a hassle in the winter time. The drying time alone is a waste considering you're bound to withstand a polish nick or two as soon as you slip back into your boots or heels. So, save yourself the cash & time by perfecting your own at-home-pedi. If you need to know the steps, lemme know, I'll be happy to send you a recipe.

*SIDENOTE - If you're ever in the northwest burbs of IL, try the Shea Silk pedicure at the Mario Tricoci in Bloomingdale IL, ask for Cheryl - she is the bomb! TRUST.

Anyone who is as serious about soft heels as I am will not hesitate to invest in a genuine Diamond Foot Buffer! Honestly, you haven't felt soft heels until you've enjoyed this investment of a tool. There are numerous options to choose from, I use the Diamancel #11 which is an excellent buffer for active women on the go. These things are not cheap (can you say Ebay) & I actually hesitated for years before purchasing one. But, it will last you forever, is super easy to clean & works like new each time. Love!

For the softest feet you can imagine - NO JOKE - pair your new diamond file with the Shea Butter Hand Lotion by Burts Bees. Yes, the hand lotion! Slather it on once your pedicure is complete & prepare to be in shock at the uber-super softness of your feet..... A little goes a long way - you will thank me & Burt of course.



If there's one item I am always in search of, it's got to be THE ULTIMATE EYE CREAM. I mean a reallllly good one, as in depuffs, de-lines, smooths, soothes, wide-awake look, eye cream. If you know of one, don't be stingy. Pay it forward!! I have yet to find the holy grail product but I know it exists so my search continues. This one is not the holy grail but it's really good. I must say, I never expected to be impressed with Bliss products & yet so-far, so-good. Who knew? : )



Why is it that I have 10 glosses of the same shade, but as soon as I see a similar shade, my eyes get all wide & happy as if it's the first time ever?! This beach bronzey lipgloss is purrrrfect for any skin tone & tastes yummy too! Who can beat that? BBW has made some HUGE strides in the bath & beauty bizzness the last 5 years or so & they continue to expand their product line. Last week, I found this gorgeous lipgloss which is a perfect soft bronze color PLUS it's moisturizing & a lil sparkly. Think soft shimmer not Cheetah-girl. But that's not all, it also has a sweet (not really gingerbread) taste that isn't annoying, make-you-sick-tasty. For $6, give it a try, you know it's going to be history after the holidays so get it while it's hot!


Calling all Costco LOVERS!!!



I love Costco! Where else can you find a home entertainment center, 2 dozen organic eggs, the latest novel on the best sellers list, a lazy boy recliner & 100% Cashmere sweaters by Ralph Lauren? Honestly, it's the ish! Every holiday season, Costco turns into this virtual wonderland of all sorts of cute gift ideas that you'd never think of until you see it there & instantly think "GOT TO HAVE IT" plus their prices can't be beat! The other day, I picked up 8 travel-size Smashbox lipglosses plus a carrying case with built-in mirror for $10.99.

Keep in mind, 1 Smashbox lipgloss sells for $15.00, so this is truly a steal! Run, hell, fly to your local Costco for this product! Think stocking stuffers, perfect gift, or how bout something for you, just because! Talk about trick or treat!!

The set includes the following shades, visit the site & check em' out:

DESIRE (makes a great highlighter over a darker shade)
FINALE
FEATURES
SASSY
ACCESSORIES
BEAUTY
BLUR
POUT

Keep 1, gift 7, gift 1, keep 7 - choice is yours....

Speaking of that fast-approaching holiday where you can dress up, grab a bag & go door-to-door begging for goodies, remember that awful little saying passed down by generations "Trick or Treat....blah blah blah..... yea, you know the one. Well, I have something much better to smell or wear for that matter, it's the Breathe Fragrance Mist Romance-Amber Myrrh scent. It smells devine, not flowery, fruity, cookie or anything else edible, since I can't stand smelling like a bakery! Honestly, if I want to reek of an alcoholic beverage (think Pina-Colada-Coconut), I'll just go a bar. This fragrance smells like a woman should ... sophisticated, soft, fresh & clean. It's a real deep-inhale, "pass someone on the street & they will surely turn-around" kind of scent.....yes, it's that gooood!

Okay, this should hold you for a while! If you happen to purchase one of these items after reading the above, hollaback & lemme know what u think.....

I'll leave you with a sassy, beaute' quote of the day:


"Discretion is being able to raise your eyebrow instead of your voice."
Anonymous

Chow!

It's Friday.......... I need a drink!

How can a job that doesn't endanger your life make one so miserable? I promised not to turn my blog into a job-hate rant so I won't go there..... peep this little lyrical lovely for blog-groupies everywhere.

blog to me in a way that I’ll forever want to hold you

caress me with verses that seem to linger in my ear

you penetrate my thoughts with your blogetic presentation

leaving behind mere whispers of a voice I long to hear......

Now that's gangsta!

Before you right-click & copy/paste the above, know that it's COPYRIGHTED.

Seeing as how my work was recently boosted, yes, boosted! As in all-out stolen, thiefed, 5 finger discount, hope nobody saw that 'ish, tooked! Not by a commoner mind you, but a respected well-known member of black religious society. He stole it, he published it, he claimed it but I have the original. I ain't namin names & I ain't trippin since it was my fault I slipped & didn't acquire the rights to my work at the time. But KNOW this, I forgets nothing & it ain't over.... he knows who he is....IT AIN'T OVA!


She's Forever Your Girl!


Too bad nobody gives a damn.

What's the world coming to when Britney Spears can bite the hell out of a cheeseburger & it sells for $500. But Paula Abdul can't sell a date, a shopping spree & a trip to NYC? That's right, noONE bid on Paula's ebay date so the site pulled the listing after 4 days! Now, that's gotta hurt!

As in; Prom date shows up to the prom with someone else cuz he forgot he asked you HURT!

As in; Spending the day at the spa, new hairstyle, new clothes, professional makeup, mani & pedi only to show up @ the party, run into your ex & his new girl has on jeans & a t-shirt that says "Vote For Pedro" & somehow looks 10x better than your azz HURT!

Just sad!

Paula's a hot mess now & we all know it but in 1989, she was the 'ish & I was her biggest fan! Oh shut up... like you don't have someone famous who you're embarrased to say "I used to LOOOOVE them". Paula could dance her butt off & in HEELS at that!!!

Beyonce who!? Let's not forget it was Paula who first donned a pair of pumps & tap-danced, jumped around, & straight got her boogie ON! I loved "Forever Your Girl" but I saw the end coming when she went for album #2 & had a miserable performance (remember Vibeology) at the MTV music awards that left both of us feeling sad, depressed & ashamed. After that, I knew her 15 minutes had officially expired but it didn't matter because it was a hella of 15 minute experience... BTW Janet, Paula will take that "THANK YOU" any time you're ready.

Moment of silence to respect the technique!
Click the link, watch & be impressed....

CELEBRITY RIDDLE:

Q: What do Angelina & Madonna have that Britney supposedly wants???
A: I'll take "African Baby" for 500 Alex.

Ding! Ding! Ding! You are correct!!!

I really hope this news is false. Honestly people, African babies are not handbags, you can't shove them in the back of your closet as soon as they go out of style! If you're a danger to your own kids why screw up the life of a kid that you don't have to buy, oops, I mean adopt.

For some reason, I just see celebs going to third world countries visiting orphanages with their checkbooks out all "I like this one, no wait, wait, that one is soooo awesome!", "Does it come in a 5 or 6 month model cuz a 6 month model would be so perfect for my Vanity Fair photoshoot next month!" "I hear they photograph better".

One thing's for sure, when these kids get older, their going to have one heck of a book deal..


I LOVE BARACK OBAMA!!!


I would love to see him as the next president! Besides really caring about the state of the world, he is very comfortable in his own skin & knows who he is. Plus, he has a REAL family that doesn't just play one on TV. U know what I'm talkin bout. He is genuine & he certainly has my vote whether he runs or not!! No, that was not a typo or grammatical error... WHETHER HE RUNS OR NOT..


A new hotty-hot-hotness has arrived! Thank you Oprah!

(pic doesn't do him justice but it's the only one I can find)

I've been tuning in to the Oprah show every Tuesday to witness the adventures of her road-trip across America with her B-F-F Gayle King. I think Gayle is naturally hilarious by the way..

To meet her fitness goals, Oprah has a road trainer with her courtesy of Bob "boy-am-I-a-lucky-fitness-pro" Greene. The road trainer is Chris Robinson & he seems really easy-going with a great smile & an obvious love of fitness. Gayle's admitted she thinks he's a lovely distraction while O acts like she hardly noticed. Chile puh-leeze. Fine is Fine & HE is FINE! All I can say. Fine.


WHAT A LOVELY SURPRISE..... (personal moment interruption)

So, the other day, I had a rough day at work. Okay, every day is a rough day truth be told but as usual I vented to HIM. As usual, he listened, sympathized, praised my underpaid work achievements & so it went. Then, today at around 1:15pm, I received an e-mail from the front desk. The subject was FLOWERS & I immediately dashed out there to see a beautiful bouquet of roses in a pretty glass vase. HE sent them just because he wanted to brighten my day. What a sweetie! 10 years & he's still full of surprises. Okay, now that I've clearly sickened you, here's a pic of the bouquet & I promise I'll move on...




Before I bid you bonne nuit, I MUST share this:


HILARIOUS QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"We don't necessarily discriminate. We simply exclude certain types of people."
Colonel Gerald Wellman


Honestly, seemingly intellingent people say some of the dumbest 'ish you'll never hear!!

Okay, till next time

Here we are...... again!

By again, I mean - Hump Day. So much to say, so little time......

What a difference, a deadline makes......

24 little hours..... I love that song. I just put the finishing touches on my very first article édité! I'm tired, red-eyed & stressed & questioning whatever made me think I had the chops to write for a living? I don't know how people do it. I'm waaaaaaay too critical of every word that floweth from my pen PLUS I have a huge disdain for proper grammatical structure so WTF am I thinking?! Oh well, I'll keep at it till carpal tunnel kicks in or my bloodshot eyes falleth from my sockets - - whichever comes 1st.

Moving on.....

The story of Marianne Pearl's life is both heartbreaking and inspiring but I had no clue that Mrs. Pearl is a black woman, or is it that she's more like 1/8 or 1/4 or 1/2?? Who knows but it's making headlines since Angelina Jolie, or A.J. as I like to call her, was cast to play the inspiring widow in a biopic of her life. I'm hearing the craziest things about the filming process such as Angie's playing the role in blackface!! Honestly, have you ever?!?

I mean really, does this pic look like blackface to you?



The media comes up with the most ridiculous 'ish sometimes. First of all, Marianne Pearl is light as day & I can't see A.J. even considering such nonsense! In the words of Mike Tyson - "simply ludicrous"!

Word on the street or at least here is that Jennifer Aniston was set to play the part when A.J. smoothly swooped down and stole it right from under poor Rachel. Daaang, sound familiar?!

sidenote: A.J. is one thing but JENNIFER ANISTON!?! C'mon now, she COULD NOT pull that off. (just look at the pics above if you doubtin)

Dancing Drrrraaaaammmaa!

It's not exactly news But there are just a few things I have to say about the "Sara Evans Divorce Rocking Dancing with the Stars" fiasco.

* She seems nice enough but she should've been GONE weeks ago

* She should've been GONE weeks ago because she CAN NOT dance

* Her best dance routine was to one of my favorite childhood songs! (NO COMMENTS FROM THE PEANUT GALLERY)


* BRING BACK WILLA & MAX since this is all unexpected and now the show will be 2 couples down instead of 1

* Cheryl is the best PRO on the show!

* Emmitt is my favorite "star"!

* Mario is the best male dancer!


BUT ENOUGH OF THAT....

Could it be? Another rather entertaining network production entering my already too-full-to watch-TV schedule?

I'm really feelin the latest series to be added to ABC's Thursday night lineup. Six Degrees is chock-full of interesting characters, buzzing story lines & some not so shabby eye-candy I might add....

* Jay Hernandez (Carlos)
Nice-guy hotness! Carlos is your typical "nice-guy" lawyer searching incessantly for a mysterious bad girl he defends in the first episode.


* Campbell Scott (Steven)
Drunken stupor turned sober hotness! Steven is a brooding older, out-of-work photographer who struggles to pick up the pieces of his fallen career thanks to an ugly addiction that cost him his family.


MY FAVORITE:
Dorian Missick (Damian)
New York Swagger Hotness!! Damian is a hustler turned straight-laced limo driver with a dirty past. But more importantly, he's tres fine - he really reminds me of Mos Def (peep the voice) but his look is less 'off-center' & his voice is REAL NICE! (did I say that already) : ) Me likey... nuff said


Okay, I dished & dabbled enough for today, I'm really exhausted so if this ain't entertaining - pardon my faux pas!

I leave you with a little light-hearted LISTING to tickle your bloggin fancy....

Oh waitaminute, I just remembered I have to share one more thing!!

I heard there's a network execs meeting planned as a result of the Grey's Anatomy Brawl I reported last week. I really hope this isn't the kind of meeting where one of the main characters (BURKE) who doesn't like another main character (MCDREAMY) gets his walking papers in the form of a sudden (gasp!) exit that leaves us wondering..huh..where's..did-you-hear-anything about Isaiah quitting..... WTF?....so I really hope the guys squash this nonsense & let the fabulousness of Grey's continue!!

BUT, let's be real for a minute, say Isaiah does get the ole' boot-in-the-kisser, I want THIS GUY to replace him! It would be tooo much competition for ole' McDreamy & McSteamy combined! TRUST.

Okay, on with the listing....

I'd Love To:

* Win the lottery
* Retire NOW
* Work from home
* Do what I want
* Have no worries
* Sleep as much as I want
* Quit my job
* Travel back in time
* Have my grandmother with me
* Publish a book of my poetry
* Retire my parents (from working that is)
* Know for sure that heaven exists
* Establish the J.I.L. Camp Dream for kids in poor communities
* Have more time to:
- Relax
- Spend time with loved ones
- Enjoy life
- Read
- Take my time
- Do anything... beauty
- Write


That's it for today... thanks for coming out, god bless....?????? (those who KNOW, can finish the rest)

Chow

Inspired by Passion!

Do you have a passion for something? You know, like some people have a passion for volunteering, or educating others about a subject they love, say, beauty for instance? Is your passion so strong that you could pursue it without financial gain even if it meant sacrificing your time and energy? Some people live their whole lives without experiencing true passion for anything other than their significant other (if that).

Passion is defined as: "a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept." I admire anyone who follows their true passion against all odds. It may start with an idea, followed by an attempt to bring that idea to life, maybe the first attempt fails, followed by a 2nd, 3rd, 4th, maybe a 7th, but nevertheless they persevere. They make revisions & keep trying because it's their passion, which makes the mere thought of giving up simply unimaginable.

Today, I met two young men with incredible passion. They share a passion for building an entertainment conglomerate with established branches in the areas of music, publishing, promotional modeling, event planning and multimedia. Together, Morris Brent and Robert Bell operate SoRaw Design & Entertainment based here in Chicago. After responding to an open call for freelance writers through "that website I love to peruse in my spare time", I received an invitation from Morris to attend an orientation meeting to join the "Ultimate Entertainment Resource". Naturally, I immediately paid a visit to the SoRaw Design and Entertainment website to get a better idea of the company, especially the magazine.

After visiting their site, I thought I had a clear idea of the magazine's concept as well as the company overall. At first, I thought "another Vibe, XXL, or The Source, mixed in with a little King" but after attending today's orientation, I realize my initial impression was grossly underestimated. The committed driving force behind SoRaw can only be described as: passion lead by consistent motivation resulting in measurable success. I was impressed to say the least!

Throughout today's presentation, Morris & Robert were professional, organized, honest, down-to-earth, and open to sharing the company with their staff. Although Morris is the CEO, he said SoRaw's organizational structure "runs horizontally not vertically" & after a decade spent dealing with corporate politics & ruthless ladder-climbing, that was a breath of fresh air to me. See, writing is not my day job, (well, in a sense it is, but not on my terms by any means) it is my passion! And to receive the opportunity to contribute to an established organization of artists with so much left to accomplish and explore, well, that just intensifies my passion ten-fold!

I have a good feeling about this..... Promise to keep you posted!