Surprising Blog-Meet at a Sonia Sanchez Reading :-)

YAYYY! I was hanging out with Ms. Cunningham, ManChild & His MOM when I finally met Sistah K.i.A. . When Ms. K.i.A. told me who she was I was SOO excited!

We met this past Saturday, July 17th while at the Harlem Book Fair after hearing the
INCREDIBLE Sonia Sanchez.

After hearing Ms. Sanchez & Meeting Ms. K.i.A. Manchild's Mom, Ms. Cunningham & I were FURTHER blessed to run into Author Extra-ordinaire, L.A. Banks!


I stopped by Ms. K.i.A's blog & learned about this website that analyzes your writing & compares it to a more famous author. I'm pretty pleased w/ my "findings":

I write like
William Gibson

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

MORE Great Newz This 2009!

Another BlogFamily Member Welcomes a Beautiful Princess 2 The World!


ConGRATS Ali & Zay!

Click on image for Her Daddy's Info!

YAYYY! Some GOOD News In 2009:-)

In the midst of so much loss - The Creator reminds us that Life GOES ON!
I want to Honor a Blog-Sistah of ours who gave birth 2 a beautiful baby boy!

Sharon - U r my S-hero & a true Queen. U give us sistahs over 35 such inspiration!

Welcome to the World, Dear BabyBoy!

Born 9/28/09, weight: 7lbs 13 ounces, length: 21 1/4 inches. Mom and son are both spectacular!!!

*photo lifted from Sharon's facebook page, I hope that's alright:-). Just wanted to share him & your amazing-ness with the world! Click her name & Baby's photo to get to her blog!

Giving Thanx 2 the Brothers who DO make Us Smile!

Thanx 2 a new blog in the blog-o-sphere: ILUVBLACKWOMEN I learned of this video that I have to share here. Warning: some of the images are not "pretty"... but the message is beautiful! I think this applies to every Woman & Man of the African Diaspora!

NYC BLOG-MEET: Sat. July 12th!!

Organized Noise is bringing us together again!! :-) If u missed any others BE THERE:
Saturday night, July 12th: We are going to Cabana's, meeting in the South Street Seaport at 6:30pm. U know O.N. is prompt!! Hope to meetcha there;-). U've seen our flix - so, come up & introduce yourself! O.N. stands out in a crowd with all that Tall Chocolateness;-). Me? I'll be the one running late, no doubt, so save me a drank;-). LOL!



Click image for source.

Word!

Borrowed this from Eb's Renaissance Spot:

One word answers...

Where is your cell phone? here

Your significant other? in-training

Your hair? curly

Your skin? healing

Your mother? growing

*Your father? best-friend

Your favorite thing? breathing

Your dream last night? fantastic

Your favorite drink? satisfies

Your dream/goal? w-health

The room you're in? living

Your ex? hmmmm

Your fear? fear

Where do you want to be in 6 years? w-healthy

Where were you last night? home

What you're not? trippin'

Muffins? nope

One of your wish list items? publish!!

Where you grew up? DC!!

The last thing you did? blogged

What are you wearing? sweats

Your TV? off

Your pets? none

Your computer? macbook

Your life? FaBuLOUS

Your mood? chill

Missing someone? several

Your car? CoROLLIN'

Something you're not wearing? jewelry

Favorite Store? dunno

Your summer? GREAT

Like someone? yep

Your favorite color? Black

When is the last time you laughed? yesterday

Last time you cried? awhile;-)

*Note: I added Father - cuz I can't leave out my main apple scrapple;-).

Click image for source.

C U in Da ATL tomorrow!!

The Bloggers Delight Book Release Party III
The Grounds Coffeehouse @SkyLofts
898 Oak Street, Atlanta, GA.
Sat., June 7th: 7-10pm.

If you're in Ft. Lauderdale, FL show luv to Brother Zay here:
Location:African Research American Library and Cultural Center2650 Sistrunk BoulevardFort Lauderdale, FL 33311 US
When:Saturday, June 7, 12:00PM
Phone:866-230-5692
Email:xavierpjr@gmail.com

Anali, Coltrane, Obama & Latin Americans

Some of U may know that I luv John Coltrane, Obama and Latin Americans (especialmente Los Hombres Suavemente;-). I add Anali to my list of luvs cuz she posts many things I luv including this new video (i have to limit my time at her spot cuz i gain a pound each time i visit - but this treat was calorie-free;-): Enjoy! I did!

After viewing this next one -- Why don't they just let The Obamas move into the Presidential Suites at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue this summer? Then the girls can settle in & be ready for school in September!

Thanx again Anali for both of these videos!

Thankful Thursdays [1 of 50]

Sistah LoveBabz is working on her list of 1000 things she wants to do before she dies. That inspired me to do a spin on that list! I tend to be quite hard on myself if I don't reach goals that I've set. Now, I'm going to try listing 1000 things I'm thankful I have experienced in this Life of CAP!

The numbers are only there for accounting sake. The Blessings are not listed in any particular order. I just want to list ten each week for .... um, help me with the math, y'all ... 100 weeks...on second thought maybe I'll do twenty each week - yea, I think I can stick with this for about a year...we'll see. Here goes ...

Twenty of the 1000 Things I'm Thankful I've Experienced in My Lifetime:

1. GREAT laughs with my loved ones (God knows I have some HILARIOUS family)!
2. Long (3+ hour) talks with my Daddy!
3. Peace & a real understanding kinda luv with my Moma!
4. Coming to terms with the relationships I have with my siblings.
5. Hanging out in NYC -- bar hopping with my eldest nephew!!
6. Reuniting with a childhood friend & becoming closer than ever.
7. Great trips to the Caribbean with friends (Jamaica, Bermuda, & Bahamas).
8. Wonderful, life changing massages at Jackie's on The Reef in Negril, Jamaica!!
9. A well-rounded education at an alma mater I've grown to love!!
10. The opportunity to teach at that alma mater for eleven years!
11. Enjoyed staying on the tiny Smith Island in the Chesapeake Bay while teaching & learning;-)
12. Partied in Puerto Rico while attending a teacher's conference;-)
13. Being completely and whole heartedly in love with the few men I've considered boyfriends & I still love them, truth be told.
14. Feeling completely loved by them ... despite our inability to communicate effectively...
15. The thrill of being made love to thoroughly, carefully and lovingly!
16. The rush of making love outdoors with the breezes caressing me simultaneously!
17. The joy of crushes before I knew the full extent of intimate passion.
18. The wonderfully, sweet and hilarious episode when I was a young teen and a BEAUTIFUL Chocolate Brother rendered me senseless by merely standing near me at a convenience store to the point where he had to count out the money in my hand to help me make the purchase.
19. I published several newspaper articles while in grade school.
20. I can say I'm a published fiction author!

New E-slang...

Thanx 2 Charles I learned a new acronym which I've already shortened to LIGAFF. Click on his name for the full story & read the comments to find out why i shortened it. LOL! So, tell me - do u know any new E-slang? Hip a sistah, if u will;-).

Tagged by a Fellow DC Native

Christoph J. tagged me & I left my answers at his spot - check 'em out when u get a minute!

Grown Freakin' Friday: MALE responses ONLY: ADULT subject matter for those over 18

Taking a turn from porn cuz I have a question that came to mind when 12Kyle posted this scenario.

Now, 12kyle's married & a couple other of u male bloggers are married. So, I want to hear your "take" on the whole wait out the physical intimacy concept. Some say the wait 3 months rule is a mind game. Some say once the milk's been tested he'll no longer want the cow. U get the idea - the clichés run the gamut -- some for waiting others against it! Personally, I have no answer: I've tried the waiting: *looking 'round: still single*. I've thrown convention to the winds: *looking 'round...yep, still single*. I know the image says waiting is exciting anticipation, but how long is too long/too short and what's a Grown Woman with needs to do who prefers a stable long term relationship? Maybe u can help a sistah out, cuz when we had this discussion at church -- there were no good answers! Tha's another post cuz that was the funniest thing I've ever seen at church! LOL!

Ladies - if you're married or in a serious relationship - I only want to "hear" your MAN'S perspective. I may even delete female responses because this is not a debate. I simply want to know what Men honestly think (feel free to log in as anonymous;-). So, Sistahs let's let the Fellas SPEAK on IT! I may come up with a question for the Ladies later. FELLAs U always say U want us to hush up & LISTEN... we're ALL EARS;-).

P.S. To all the MOTHER's - HAPPY Freakin' Mother's day ;-) ... & to the rest of us: HAPPY Children of Freakin' Mothers DAY! I mean the freakin' in a good way, of course!

*click image for source.

Two-Faced ... how bad is it?

Sistah Kiki's post got me thinking - AGAIN - is it really such a bad thing to be two-faced? Those aren't her words - but she describes a dilemma that many I know live with. I am trying to capture this phenomena in my novel (that I pray will be published later this year;-). I let a friend read part of my novel and her reaction: "That's unrealistic. No educated woman speaks like that." What really cracked me up about her reaction is the fact that she and I cut up all the time and we're both educated professionals! I didn't even ask why she wouldn't believe it in a story.

So, I ask - how many of you are two-faced? Do you meet folk in one setting and they get surprised and bent out of shape when you show them another side of you? Or are U the one who gets surprised by another's multi-faceted personalities?

Addendum:
I know most use the term two-faced to mean a negative thing. But, I want to play with the concept a bit. I grew up with folks who claimed if you left the neighborhood or the family circle and improved yourself you'd gotten "brand new" and that was a crime: as the premise of the new movie Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins seems to be. I'm not saying that we should forget our moral grounding, but I do struggle with the going back and forth sometimes. Some days, I just wanna kick my shoes off and be country as I wanna be! Sometimes, I know I need to be professional & on top of things - even FABULOUS! Then, there are times when even I caYn't STAND the folx I grew up with in all their ignant glory! LOL! So, yea - I know I can be two-faced - but not in a malicious sense.

*click image for source.

Voices of BlogLand & Spa Question 4 NYers

Opinionated Diva posted the coolest widget that I've seen in a while - allowing folk to leave voice messages on her blog. So, give a listen to a coupla fellow bloggers! U can hear them NOW;-). Of course, as the trend-setter, O.Diva knew most of us were going to follow her lead. U can leave a message for me to your right in my column of interest;-).

Some of my girlz are coming up from DC to hang out one weekend soon & we want a pampah us spa day! But, I don't know any good spas here. The only time I really spoil myself with massages and all is in JAMAICA!!! ....*sigh: as I remember how good that felt to get massaged w/ the ocean breeze blowing over me*... Whew!

Oh... okay ... I'm back... So, if U know of any GREAT NYC spas (preferably spas who are not asking for my first born as payment for their services;-), please clue a sistah in! Thanx!!


*click images for source.

10K & then some :-)

Don't ask me why ... but, I'm SO EXCITED that I've had just over 10,000 visitors to THIS Blog!!
THANX to all who've come by AND big HUGZ to those who leave comments, send emails & call me giving feedback on the content here;-).

Then, I'm cruisin' along catching up on a few blogs when I see the first endorsement for the book which features my fiction debut AND my own first complimentary "blurb" (I think that's what it's called in "the industry";-): Check it OUT! Thanx Sistah Angelia!!

What a way to Start Leap Month!

An artist worth checking out: Kara Walker

Went to check this sistah's exhibit out at the Whitney. If she's ever in your area I suggest you do the same! In addition to thought provoking subject matter, the fact that one of her mediums is paper cut-outs on such a large scale is fascinating to me!

Thanx i.am.malik for hipping me to this sistah's work.

*click image for source

2008 is GREAT - starting with a Tag Response

I was tagged ages ago ... by MizRepresent. (Then G Sweet tagged with same thang;-).
I thought I'd save it for my New Year's 2008 Post:

Rules I can follow:
A) Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog ... Done!
B) Share 7 random facts about yourself ... Done (see below:-) ... I've even added one in honor of 08;-) ...
Here's where I veer off the rules ... a bit more:
C) Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs ... If U're reading this & u like it - have AT it!
D) Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
How about this instead:
If U liked this and U've self tagged - let me know in the comments and I'll come check your version out;-)

Seven Eight Random Facts about CAP (that u may or may not know already;-):

1. I am thankful for ALL of my blessings (including the tough, enriching learning experiences).
2. My initials are CAP & I was born & raised in the Nation's CAPital.
3. I'm the youngest of four female siblings & we share the same initials:-).
4. I love intensely (so I'm told:-) ... & wonder how anyone can love ... "moderately (?)".
5. I embrace all that is ME (which is a new 'fact' that I'm LOVING about me!).
6. I'm a nonconformist who is quite a conundrum (& I love the word conundrum;-)!
7. I like to listen and I LOVE to talk!!

8 (Bonus;-). I LOVE to DANCE!!! And need to do so more often:-) ... so check one of my favorite videos & le's GROOVE!


Click image for its source.

Write Now I'm Digging...

* The recent post over at Dave J's spot.
*Parable of The Sower - by Octavia Butler.
*Parable of the Talents (sequel to Parable of the Sower) - by Octavia Butler.

* Gwendolyn Brooks' A Black Wedding Song:

This love is a rich cry over
the deviltries and the death.
A weapon-song. Keep it strong.

Keep it strong.
Keep it logic and magic and lightning and muscle.

Strong hand in strong hand, stride to

the Assault that is promised you (knowing
no armor assaults a pudding or a mush.)

Here is your Wedding Day.
Here is your launch.

Come to your Wedding Song.

For you
I wish the kindness that romps or sorrows along.
Or kneels.
I wish you the daily forgiveness of each other.
For war comes in from the World
and puzzles a darling duet -
tangles tongues,
tears hearts, mashes minds;
there will be the need to forgive.

I wish you jewels of Black love.
Come to your Wedding Song.

Please Help Those Less Fortunate than U this Season

While I encourage us all to help others less fortunate at ANY time of the year, this season it is most important, I think. This is an intensely emotional time of year. There have been studies that abuse (to self & to others) increases at this time of year, deaths increase at this time of year and depression certainly increases. It's a combination of the decrease in sunlight hours and the holidays. While you may be helping others less fortunate by donating to charities or spending time at hospitals, shelters, etc. Please consider checking out SulDog's Blog and supporting a Boston Family cause in anyway that you can. Thanx!

We Don't Always Know How Blessed We Are

Peeped in on CortGee today and learned the unfortunate news that comedian extra-ordinaire: Rasheed has passed away ( I hope they keep his myspace page up which is where I linked his name to - it has his baby flix & then some). A THIRTY-SIX year OLD Brother suffered a HEART-attack! WTF?! I don't care WHAT he was or was NOT doing ... how U gonna suffer a Heart ATTACK at 36? Come ON FOLX - take HEED & take CARE! Prayers go out to Rasheed's Family. I just feel blessed that I actually experienced this Brother Live & in Person with Rob Stapleton at the Laugh Lounge when my Moma & Nephew came to NYC to visit me a couple of years ago! U know I like to show folx a good time! Enjoy this clip I found of him being interviewed: