Inner City Blues

I've gotten into an interesting discussion with The Black Informant.

Question of the Day:

Is one of the qualifications of being considered “black": "Must have lived in the “hood?”

Click and see.

Oprah Winfrey presents..."Their Eyes Were Watching God" starring Halle Berry on March 6, 2005 9/8c on ABC.

I am always worried when a novel comes to life in a movie. It never represents what I envisioned. And I hate to be like, "hmm...that's not how I pictured it."

And more importantly, I like that books are left up to the readers own illustration. Nobody needs to tell me what Raymond Tyler looks like. I know him.

And in most cases, books need no other interpretation anyway. Yet, the fact of the matter is that in this society great stories are oftentimes never told to the masses when left in written form.

How many truly avid readers do you know? I am even embarrassed at how little I have read in the past few years. For me, it is hard for a book to compete with reality tv. That's my guilty pleasure. So, in essence, I understand the lack of readership. DEATH TO TELEVISION!

Nevertheless, soon to come is an interpretation of Zora Neale Hurston's Their Eyes Were Watching God presented by Oprah Winfrey. I personally revelled in Beloved. I thought it was true to Toni Morrison's work. So, I trust that I can count on Oprah to do any novel justice on the small or big screen. Especially this one.

Plus, the previews have gotten me all too excited. I just cannot imagine how the flood scene is gonna work?!

Maximillian (Max) prior to adoption at Fulton County Animal Services 

Maximillian

Santa brought me a canine companion for Christmas. I had always wanted a pet. I just didn't know if I was necessarily ready for the committment. I would constantly talk myself out of purchasing one. So needless to say, I recently decided it was time to find out.

My only stipulation was that the dog be rescued from the pound. I wanted to feel as though I had saved a life, a carnivorous one. And I did. Maximillian (Max) was adopted with kennel cough, conjunctivitis, neuter infection, flea infestation, and a severely matted coat amongst other things. All the poor dog had strength to do was to lick his persistent runny nose and penis sutures from the neutering...ugghh!

Now it's February and all is nearly well. In the process, he has become quite attached to me...following me from room to room, attempting to sleep in the bed with me, and displaying pure joy as soon as I walk into the house.

Nevertheless, I feel as though I've adopted a child. (Maybe I'm the one whose become attached!?!?)

Killing Me Softly

I felt all flushed with fever
Embarassed by the crowd
I felt he found my letters
And read each one out loud
I prayed that he would finish
But he just kept right on
Strumming my pain with his fingers
Singing my life with his words
Killing me softly with his song

Having someone discover your blog unexpectedly can put you at a menacing handicap. Once "outed," I simply disappeared. Now I think I'm back.

Journaling has always been cathartic to me. Sometimes I write knowing I never want to see what has been written once it is completed. It is that I only desire the process of purging the thoughts and ideas into tangible representative symbols on a computer screen or piece of paper.

Other times, the recorded thoughts and subsequent reminiscence is worth the cataloging. Acknowledging the documented "then and now" can only illustrate life's growing pains, right?

Nevertheless, the addition of online "publishing" has added another aspect of journaling that I have grown to appreciate (and despise) in an effort to capture a collective journey of individuals caught up in this cyber hustle.

Am I up for this ride, again?