Remembering Mama
I remember the book Mama by Terry McMillan very well and can’t believe it was well over 20 years ago that I read and loved it. It was one of those books that really spoke to me in both its style and emotion. With all I’m going through as a writer right now I think I need to revisit it. Check out this interview with the amazing author.
Best,
KwanaWork Space
What’s Jack up to? Well, you know Jack so no surprise, he’s up to his old tricks. He got sick and threw up the other day. Could it be because the Dear Twins are home and he’s getting into their secret stash of treats from school? He got into the DS’s bookbag and found a bunch of candy while we were out and I came home to candy wrappers all over the floor. I wasn’t happy with Jack or the DS for that one.
Thank you all so much for your support on my Keeping It Real post yesterday. I’m not sure where it will lead but I do appreciate it. Today I’d like to do an update on an old post Visualization where I talked about wanting to add a writing desk to my already tight bedroom. Well, while the Twins were in Paris last week and I had the DH home I decided to move a bit of furniture around. Too bad it was when the DH was trying to take a much longed for nap that I came up with this plan (shrug).
Oh well after much nudging, we moved his chest of drawers over and took the TV off the, could be antique, sewing table that was its stand (yes there is a real sewing machine in here). Then I made the sewing table my desk. Sure it’s itty bitty but works for now until I find another I like. And I quickly put up my little inspiration board. Next up a nice tall skinny shelf for the pile of books and papers to the left that you can’t see.
But now to deal with this pesky problem of writer’s block that I’m having. More on that later…
Have a fantastic day!Best,
KwanaKeeping It Real
Hello Monday. I hope the weekend treated you well. Mine was fine. Back to the usual running with the Dear Twins and such. Weekends are so busy that Monday mornings seems like a breather. Although I will admit to wasting away much of Saturday on the bed in front of the TV nursing my eye which is a lot better. The DH was kind enough to put the kidlit miles on his car and do all the driving while I held down the home fort. Ahh domestic life.
But all this is not the focus on today’s post. Today I’d like to discuss something I’ve been grappling with a while. The idea of keeping it real and how real can real be on ye old blog. You see something has not been quite sitting right with me.
There are plenty of days when I write a perfectly fine blog post but I glaze over a subject when I’d like to go deeper, be a little sharper, maybe more snarky, not so darn happy and let more of my neurotic self come though. But then that neurotic self takes over and I get to fretting. I start to compare myself to those shiny happy pretty blogs and worry that if I get too real and show my true self or give my real opinions you all won’t come back or you’ll stop reading.
Silly I know. To get to 40 and still worry what others think. What a shame. What waste or time, energy and so precious words.Besides when I look back on past posts where I am more real and let my feelings show you all have responded so beautifully and shown more of yourselves to me. For that I am grateful.
So what I guess what I’m saying here is it’s time for ye old blog to grow up a bit. Get more real and show more of who I really am. Lord knows when I look in the mirror I see plenty of changes, I might as well express them here too.Every day is not sunny and every day it does not rain.
Much Love,
KwanaI’d Like To Thank The Academy…
I’ve been surprised and honored to receive some very kind (though I’m not sure deserved) awards for ye ol’ blog here. On behalf of myself and the Jackster I’d like to give hearty thanks. Uh-oh here comes the ugly cry.
The first was the Over The Top award from Christine from over at The Happily Ever After.
The Over The Top Award is given to blogging friends whose blogs you consider over the top, in a complimentary way, of course. As in, they are “far more than usual or expected; extraordinary.”
Now receiving this award tell me I need to go even further to be a little more Over The Top. Look out world I’m coming for ya! Thanks so much Christine. You can visit Christine here.
Before passing this award on I have to complete this little survey. Okay. I’m game.Your cell phone? Blackberry Storm
Your hair? Hot MessYour mother? WildYour father? Passed awayYour favorite food? Too many to chooseYour dream last night? DeepYour favorite drink? coffeeYour dream/goal? To be happyWhat room are you in? BedroomYour hobby? Reading and Knitting and TVYour fear? So manyWhere do you want to be in 6 years? A multi published authorWhere were you last night? homeSomething that you aren’t? PatientMuffins? SometimesWish list item? Marc Jacobs Lisa bag.Where did you grow up? New York CityLast thing you did? Washed Dishes. So glamorousWhat are you wearing? Sweater and flamer pj’sYour TV? old. Really, it has a turn dial.Your pets? Jack the wonder dogFriends? sweetYour life? ComplicatedYour mood? ComplicatedMissing someone? alwaysVehicle? Ford EdgeSomething you’re not wearing? shoesYour favorite store? bookstoreYour favorite color? Green sometimes other times,black.When was the last time you laughed? Hmm… Must get on that.Last time you cried? Hmmm… sure it won’t be long now.Your best friend? LoyalOne place that you go to over and over? Bathroom. TMI?Facebook? 1 x a day. Not a huge fanFavorite place to eat? Johnny’s on City IslandNow I’m supposed to pass the award to 5 other Over The Top Bloggers. Okay Dokey!
Kate at Babbling about BooksJax’s Artistic JourneyNow the fun doesn’t stop there I received yet another award. Man, you’d think I starred in Precious or at least Avatar and was painted blue with all the awards.
I received a Beautiful Blogger award from Tia at Stoic which is a super cool blog that you really need to check out. Beautiful? Wow. Look at me blushing.
Now of course all things come with a little catch and you have to pay in order to play so here are the rules behind the award:
1. Thank & link to the person that gave you the award
Thanks so much Tia. You really are the fairest of them all. Link here.2. Pass this award onto 15 bloggers you’ve recently discovered & think are fantastic.
15? I agree with Tia. These folks are not playing around but ok. Check out these cool peeps. Some may be a bit older than the rest but you won’t be sorry. Click away:3. Contact said Blogs & let them know they’ve won
Uh, don’t they have Google alerts for that? Sigh ok.4. State 7 things about yourself
Come on. You people must be bored with me by now. Sorry if I repeat myself:
1. I can’t walk in heels. My feet instantly hurt. I wish I could though.
2. I usually have at least one twin pissed at me. Ugh. Parenting sucks.
3. I really love shrimp. Wish I had some right now.
4. I adore a good bath. I’d like a nice hot bath at having a nice plate of shrimp.
5. Throw some pasta with those shrimp and I’d be extra happy
6. Put it all in Italy and make my day. I really want to go there one day.
7. Maybe on a book trip?Whew. I made it. Thanks for reading and playing along. At least I hope you do. I really am honored to be thought of and so grateful to all of you who stop on my and hang with me every day.
Best,KwanaSad Clown
What am I 12 0r 13? How do I get these things? I have been dealing with a cold for over a week maybe 2 and I woke two days ago with a really red eye. I thought (well hoped) it was my allergies. No doing there. It continued so I went to the eye Dr. to find out I have pink eye. Pink freakin’ eye! That and the two big pimples between my eyebrows make me wonder if I’m 12 or something. Ugh.
So that’s the reason for the Toulouse-Lautrec artwork today (still keeping with the Paris feel). I’m feeling like a bit of a sad clown out there for all the world to see even though I’d rather hide. Oh and the fact that I’m giving up sugar for Lent (again) does not help my Sad Clown mood or attitude. Speaking of attitude I sure like hers. Love the pants. This was painted over 100 years ago and still they look great. So stylish.
Happy Friday.
Best,
KwanaWinter in Paris
What’s Jack up to? Oh that Jack is trying my last nerve. Yesterday after a workout with my new Shape Up sneakers I decided to reward myself with a nice bath before continuing with my chores and getting ready for the Dear Twins to come home. Well, I ran my bubble bath, closed the door just about all the way, and went about doing some things when I looked and saw Jack acting squirrely. Tossing and flipping like he was trying to dry himself. Well… sigh… that little stinker had jumped into my bath before I could. Can you believe it? I fixed him and a chased him down and gave him a bath for real. Don’t know what’s more work. One little dog or 16 year old twins.
Yeah, I know, it’s the Teen Twins (but Jack is close). They returned home last night tired and happy to see us (Jack the most). Paris was a love, love, love even in the winter (they had a bit of snow). I’m so happy they are back safe and sound. What a joy for us to send them on this trip and to have them return to us.I will report more soon. Enjoy your day.
Painting of Paris in the Winter by Antoine BlanchardBest,
KwanaThank Heaven
What’s Jack up to? Well he was way too happy in the snow yesterday. Rolling around and having a ball. I just could not muster up the same enthusiasm. Sorry Jack I’m just over it now.
The Dear Twins will be home tonight! I’ve missed them a lot but it’s been a good miss and gone by so fast. Quickly we’ll all be back to the grind.
In honor of the twins coming home I leave you with this trailer and clip from Gigi with Leslie Caron one of my all time favorite movies that pays homage to gay Paris!Best,
KwanaWhile Paris Sleeps
Today is the twins last full day in Paris. They return home tomorrow night.
Yay and sniff. Feeling the need to get as much work done and rest as possible today. That just doesn’t mix.Happy President’s Day
What’s Jack up to? Jack is doing well. Missing the Dear Twins but happy to have all the attention of the house to himself. It’s all about Jack right now… but really when is it not?
I hope you had a nice Valentine’s day. Mine was lovely spent with the DH and seeing him sing in the male choir for Men’s day. Here’s a pic of my pretty roses that he gave me. What a sweetheart.
In honor of the Dear Twins I’m keeping up with the French theme this week with this pic of our President and First lady on their past visit to France for President’s day today.
So far I hear the twins are having a wonderful time, visiting Versailles yesterday one of the most beautiful places on earth in my opinion. They even got to go into more private rooms like the opera house which is not for pubic view and sit. Lucky kids. I’m so glad they are having this experience. Their teachers blog for the parents every night and send us pics to tell about the trip. It looks like a blast. Yesterday there was even a sweet Valentine message video from Versailles.
Happy Presidents day to you. Enjoy!
Best,
KwanaSweet Sounds
So I did hear from the Dear Twins. They both called separately yesterday evening Paris time after arriving at the homes of their host families and having dinner. Ahh… dinner in Paris how nice.I was out since it was afternoon in NY so the DS left a message saying his family was nice and the meal delicious. So like him to think of the meal.The DD reported the same and told of visiting the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. She seemed happy and tired from so far away. Even spoke a bit of french. Aww!!The DH and I are amazed that our babies are so far away and having this experience. Believe me it’s a long way from his Georgia and my Harlem roots.I’m wishing you all a Happy Valentine’s Weekend. I hope it’s filled with love.
With All Our Love,Kwana & JackP.S. The winner of the Cara Elliot giveaway is Lenore of Lenorevermore! Congrats. If you have not been to Lenore’s blog get over there quick. Believe me you won’t be disappointed with all the fab going on
