My first time being interviewed

http://www.poormagazine.org/index.cfm?L1=news&story=751

I was 18 or 19, about 40 pounds heavier and sported a huge Afro. Check out the link above to read the article.

I'm ready to go

To produce and grow

Yes, I'm ready to grow

To blossom and flow

Yes, I'm ready to go

To sustain in the rain

to sweat and feel pain

To elevate myself

Yes, I'm ready to go

In turmoil

I shine

I glimmer

I gloss

In pain

I retreat but only to grow

In triumph I humble me

Float practically

angel, bumble bee

Yes, I'm ready to go

Yes, I'm ready to go

I'm ready to go.

The titles of all my projects

Which title of my 5 projects do you think sounds the best?

First project- Making Luv To Freedom (poetry collection)

Second project- Dream Returned (hip hop and poetry album)

Third project- Soul Gossip (group album)

Fourth project- The Trilogy (poetry book, cd and dvd---within that project though each had its on title. There was my personal favorite "Roller Coaster Eyes," is the name of the DVD.

"Club Freedom" is the name of the book. And the CD is called "Liberate Wax."

Now that I think of it Liberate Wax and Club Freedom are nice too.

And finally, my latest project, the novel, Étouffée.

Which do you like the best?

Been a long time, but I never left you.

Sorry I've been away from the blog for so long but really, how does this blogging thing really work? How does one have a popular blog. I watched a news segment yesterday morning about an all-female blog site (blogHER I believe) that also had a blogging conference.

Anyway, I guess a part of promoting a book is to have social networking down, blogging down,a website, lots of interest and a great buzz, buzzing about. I finished my website two weeks ago and will have it published soon. Facebook is booming with interest for the novel and thats very exciting. This novel is my 5th professional release since 2001. What a blessing. Anyway, thats all for now. Thanks for tuning in!!

A recent post about reading stats after high school....

50% of Americans will not read a book after high school or college graduation, WHY?

Great question, alarming fact. Is reading in America out of style? I read some years ago that Oprah Winfrey's father would make her read non-stop when she was young. She didn't have much of a "summer break" like other kids. She was constantly reading. I don't know if something can be said about people who continue to read past high school English classes and those who don't. Is success guaranteed to those who elect to pick up a book frequently and those who don't? I don't think one can be for certain of the results from consistent reading. But the fact remians technology has taken over our world: from high speed Internet, to our mobile devices that allow us the convenience of paying bills and shopping while on the go. So, what was the last book YOU read? convenience

WORKOUT...MISSION WEIGHT LOSS, ULTIMATE HEALTH

Briefly....

been on a mission for some years now to knock down some unwanted weight and to gain ultimate health and physical-greatness. I was an athlete all my life and than--snap, all of a sudden I didn't play sports every single day. So anyway, this past week I started my workout...ill share a few of the things I've done to sweat it out!

Wednesday Oct 21 Walked from Masonic to Page & Page to O'ffarell with 5 pound weights on each ankle.

Thursday- Kaiser to Kezar... at Kezar I ran 8 100 meter dashes, 4 with weights, walked back from Kezar to Kaiser with weights

Friday- 3 games of hoop at fitness 40 minutes, 15 minute bike, walked Urban High School to Kaiser

Sunday- 2 mile walk at the Embarcadero..

so far so good..this weeks workouts have been in the gym with lots of cardio on the treadmill and lots of basketball in the gym....

Words from Collin Powell....GREAT READ

The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve.
Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity.
An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people.
As you grow, your associates will change.
Some of your friends will not want you to go on.
They will want you to stay where they are.
Friends that don't help you climb will want you to crawl..
Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream.
Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you.

Consider this:
Never receive counsel from unproductive people.
Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, becausethose who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how.
Not everyone has a right to speak into your life.
You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person.
Don't follow anyone who's not going anywhere.

With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it.
Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life.
Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships.
If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl. But, if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.
"A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses."
The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for the good and the bad.

Note: Be not mistaken.
This is applicable to family as well as friends.
Yes...do love, appreciate and be thankful for your family, for they will always be your family no matter what.
Just know that they are human first and though they are family to you, they may be a friend to someone else and will fit somewhere in the criteria above.

"In Prosperity Our Friends Know Us.
In Adversity We Know Our Friends."

"Never make someone a priority when you are only an optionfor them."

"If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.".......................Colin Powell