My Maiden Voyage

I'm so excited. Launching my very own blog. Wow, I feel like I should give a speech. I'd like to first thank my late goldfish Shiner (pouring a bit of aquarium water for my lil homie who aint here). "Mayin, they was tryin ta tell us we wasn't gonna be nobody, but look at us man, look at us!!" Sorry about that, just had to take a moment.

Exhale.

Okay, I'm cool now. I guess I should introduce myself. I live in New York and am very excited about life, people and the idea that I actually get paid to do something I LOVE. What a blessing.

I thought I'd share a little about myself...

-I'm a writer.
-I grew up in southern New Jersey (Willingboro, where Carl Lewis and City High are from...you know the group that did "What would you do?" Heard of them, right? Right? LOL
-I'm based in New York, working as a research assistant/freelance journalist. The rest of my time is spent listening to music, contemplating the world, or watching my faves, ANTM and Half and Half.
-I just finished a nine month internship at a national magazine.
-I own a copy of Earth, Wind and Fire's greatest hits (volume one and two) They're the bomb. My all time favorite group (Philip Bailey's falsetto on "Fantasy" is out of this world.)
-I like Harlem. It's diverse and quiet. Lovely on Sunday mornings when I walk to church. It makes me happy to go to a siddity church. I like to look at the who's who of black Harlem, like I might of had I been around during the Renaissance.
-Oh, by the way, I love all people, and because I happen to be one, especially black people. Most black people, that is. (see Chris Rock, for further explanation)
-My brother makes me proud. He's a straight arrow -- principled, disciplined, kind and funny (on the low). Most people think he's quiet. But, that's his hustle. (smile). He fools you.
-I love the fact that I have such good friends. All with different personalities. All quite the hilarious. That's really a blessing.
-I visit my family a lot.
-I am an oldest child. We were all born about 4.5 years apart.
-I can be extroverted and introverted by turns. People who don't know me generally think I'm reserved and quiet. Much in contrast to those who know me. They think I'm outgoing. I can be a "Chatty Cathy" when I'm excited about something.
-I laugh a lot. What cracks me up the most is sarcasm, irony. Faves are Seinfeld and Dave Chapelle (*singing* "Unity, it's a celebration!")
-I may be the only black person in the world who hasn't mastered spades and certainly the only black girl who can't jump double-dutch! (The rhythm always threw me off, probably due to all those years in private school). I always had to be "permanent turner" and then Boomquisha or Starletta from up the block would tell me, "You turnin' doublehan-ted!" No one could tell me what that meant though. LOL
-When I was little my dad used to quiz me on Motown songs. So, I've developed this sort of encyclopedia in my head. Play the first five seconds of any song from that era, or 70's R&B and I can pop out with the name, artist, issue date. It's sort of "Rainman"-esque LOL
-I know the words to "Can't you Feel a Brand New Day" from "The Wiz", which by the way, is my all-time favorite movie. A bit of trivia -- that song was written by Luther Vandross (words and music). I only know that because I recently looked at the liner notes (my parents still have the original record...that's priceless)
-My favorite part is the sequence with the snooty people who live in Oz. I used to wear my mother's coat and dance in front of the TV when that part came on. (*singing* "You got to be seen in green, to show that your stuff is layed. If you're not seen in green, you better be wearing jade!")
-My favorite song from that movie is "You Can't Win". Barring his current trouble, Michael was the greatest. The boy tore it up. Sigh...I still remember that poster of him with the yellow vest/ bowtie on. Old-nose Michael was fine.
-If I had to be a character in "The Wiz", I'd want to be one of the dancers from the Oz sequence...or Miss One.
-Let's see, my other fave is the Five Heartbeats (it was sooo underrated) You might not want to watch the movie with me though, I know all the words. Especially Eddie's parts. (*singing* "I got nuthin but love for you bay-bay. Got nothin but love for you bay-bay") The best part is when they tear it up at the Apollo. Eddie Kang brought the house down.
-I think my soulmate will be someone who marches to his own beat, meaning he's not someone who's imprisoned by conventionality (is that a word?). I think he'll appreciate the written word and music. I hope he'll be taller than me (I'm 5'8)
-I think good guys are good listeners and have a sense of humor. Also, they value their mommas. (smile)
-In the meantime, I'm fortunate for family and friends who cheer me on.
-Let's see...a few of my favorite things -- warm weather, driving, Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane duets, Aaron McGruder's The Boondocks, The Roots, old Talib Kweli, writing, of course. It's like breathing to me, my CD player...don't know what I'd do without being able to listen to Curtis Mayfield or Jill Scott... I guess, I would hum to myself, but that would be wack :) , reading Newsweek, the New Yorker and the old Savoy.
-I could be found guilty for overuse of the word "Hype"
-Favorite songs are "Keep Your Head to the Sky" by Earth, Wind and Fire, "Another Star" by Stevie Wonder and "Award Tour" by Tribe Called Quest. A close runnerup is "Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield. Basically I like most of what was recorded by black people in the 70's.
-I think that "everything in it's time" is a good way to approach your life ethos. Things will happen when they are meant to happen.
-The best place I've been on vacation is West Palm Beach, Fla. Ahhh. So dreamy. I think the place I want to visit next (again) is New Orleans. I love the spirit of that place. So many different cultural influences. So fun.
-I'm grateful to say that at 25, I've written for my dream magazine and have been published in a book. They were both dreams last year that came true. I'm thankful for that.
-I've been to Martha's Vineyard and no I don't think that makes me "boogie" (LOL)
-My favorite sport to watch is basketball (college hoops -- Go DUKE!!)
-My favorite sport to play growing up was soccer. I played sweeper (the last defender before the goalie). I also ran track. (My mom still has pictures where I'm running with my sky blue "Get in Shape Girl" headband on. Mom, please don't show those to anyone!
-I feel sorry for Bobby and Cracky...I mean Whitney. It's a sad study of what drugs will do to ya. I hope the best for them.
-The best writers around today, I think, are Jonathan Alter and Malcolm Jones (Newsweek) and Hilton Als (New Yorker). I love their work.
-I keep hearing rumors that a Tribe Called Quest is getting back together. (I hope so!!)
-I like to debate, especially when I don't really know what I'm talking about. I like to see how far I can get on braggadocio and sans real facts...LOL
-I don't make any appointments before 11 a.m. if I can help it.
-I call my grandmother Sweetie Pie. We started calling her that a long time ago and it stuck. She, at 84, is the greatest. The Louisville lady taught me the importance of art and can rock a hat/ fur coat like no one else I've ever seen. Has three walk-in closets, all packed. Like Jay Z, says, "can't knock the hustle furreal".