Love is complicated.
I’m trying to get here.
In an effort to continue with my new-found commitment to get back on a writing schedule, I have decided to join the #WriteLikeCrazy plan started by the author, Tayari Jones. Â Side note: Â If you haven’t read “Silver Sparrow” by Tayari you are missing out a great novel.
Anyway, my goal is to spend at least one hour a day writing. Â The writing can be a blog post or research for a story. Â The point is that I need to be doing something every day that moves my projects forward.
To all my writer friends, check out her website and join the movement. Â Got a goal? Â Feel free to share.
Related articles
School starts here in another week. Â That means its back to school shopping for our family. Â I don’t look forward to this at all. Â Here are the top five reasons I hate shopping with my kids:
1.  Being female, people may assume that I would enjoy shopping no matter the occasion.  Those people would be wrong.  I am more of the get in, get out type of person.  I don’t like to linger over the racks.  I don’t like the crowds.  To me, shopping is one of those mundane tasks you have to perform in order to be considered a civilized member of society.  Like bathing daily.  Or going to the DMV.
2.  My girls, however, love to shop.  All you have to do to make Diva’s life  complete is give her an unlimited budget and a ride to the mall.
3.  When did we decide that all clothes designer would only produce small, tight, and revealing articles of clothing?  Why must every pair of jeans get progressively tighter under the guise of being skinny, super skinny or something called jeggings?  It makes for some stressful conversations.
4.  Speaking of clothing sizes, who are they making these clothes to fit?  Barbie?  I am really getting tired of having to explain to my medium-sized daughter that she needs a large because of the snug cut.  A medium is really a small in today’s fashion world.
5.  Auntie Ann’s Pretzels. I can’t walk past this spot in the mall without being compelled to buy a pretzel.  Those things are evil.  But oh, so tasty.
Do you have a back to school shopping story to share?
Any reader of this blog knows that I love NBA basketball.  (The Lakers got Dwight Howard.  Not sure what to make of it.  More on thoughts on that later.)  The 2012 Olympics  were must see television for me for the chance to see our best athletes compete in track (women rule), gymnastics (Gabby Douglas), swimming (Michael Phelps), tennis (Serena Williams) and basketball.
Congratulations to both squads for bringing home the gold.
Like most people in the world, I’ve been watching the Olympics. Isn’t this amazing?
In the end……….
Wise words
Every generation thinks the music of their youth is better than the what’s being played today. Â In my case, it is actually true. Â Let me present, MC Hammer.
Yeah, I had the shoes. Â I had the baggy pants, white shirt with the black vest. Â I’m not ashamed to admit it. Â The “You Can’t Touch This” video, I had all the steps down cold. Â You couldn’t tell me I didn’t.
I miss the time when rap was fun and actually good.
“You Can’t Touch This”
“Pray”
“Turn This Mutha Out”
“2 Legit 2 Quit”
Enjoy!
Pariah (n): Â A social outcast
The movie Pariah is the story of a 17-year-old Brooklyn teenager dealing with her sexuality.  Alike (pronounced ah-lee-kay) has accepted that she is a lesbian but her religious mother and otherwise occupied father refuse to acknowledge the truth for different reasons.
The writing and directing by Dee Rees is a blueprint for effective storytelling.  The characters are multi layered, the dialogue sings (some profanity) and the actors are superb.  The character Alike embodies all the teenage angst we all experienced.  The audience is a witness to this young woman trying to find where she fits in the world.
Pariah premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2011 and was released earlier this year to limited screens.  This film didn’t get much marketing so the masses may have missed it.  However, if you appreciate quality writing, excellent acting (Kim Wayans is outstanding) and an engaging story, I highly recommend this movie.
Favorite quote from the movie: Â Alike reading a poem that encompasses the overall theme.
Heartbreak opens onto the sunrise for even breaking is opening and I am broken, I am open. Broken into the new life without pushing in, open to the possibilities within, pushing out. See the love shine in through my cracks? See the light shine out through me? I am broken, I am open, I am broken open. See the love light shining through me, shining through my cracks, through the gaps. My spirit takes journey, my spirit takes flight, could not have risen otherwise and I am not running, I am choosing. Running is not a choice from the breaking. Breaking is freeing, broken is freedom. I am not broken, I am free.Â
Princess got her driver’s license.  Exciting times, right?  My girl is growing  up and completing another milestone on the way to adulthood.  I am a proud parent.  I am also terrified.
Maybe terrified is too strong a word. Â I feel some discomfort. Â Yes, that’s it. Â I feel uneasy. Â Yesterday, I let her drive to the store by herself. Â My stomach was churning but I turned over the keys anyway. Â She has to learn to be comfortable driving solo. Â The only way to do that is to just do it. Â She’s gone to driving school and I’ve ridden with her several times. Â She is a good driver although an inexperienced one. Â I trust her to be careful. Â But I am a parent and I still worry.
Here is something I’ve realized. Â It gets harder to keep your kids safe as they get older. Â When they are babies straight through the elementary years, you know exactly where they are. Â The majority of the time they are with you. Â You decided where they go, what they do and who they do it with.
Teenagers don’t need, or frankly even want to, do everything with their parents. Â It’s a constant tug of war. Â They desire more freedom and good parents gradually let them fly solo and make their own decisions. Â But with that comes a lost of parental control. Â You have to trust that the values you’ve instilled will actually stick. Â You have to trust that your child will make more good choices than bad. Â You pray that a higher power protects them from harm.
Then you let go. Â And sit in the passenger seat while your kid drives.
