Rantings of a Creole Princess

Helena Andrews: "Bitch is the New Black" - My Thoughts

I guess I stand alone in that I think it's FABULOUS that this young lady is having her story told in Hollywood. Folks bemoan the fact there aren't any movies about REAL Black people and here comes one with the direction of Shonda Rhimes and the voice of an actual young, Black woman.

I guess something is wrong with my way of thinking yet again. Folks would rather a man dressed like a woman tell a Black woman's story.

I've been an angry woman before.  Hell...I was angry last night.  And I'm Black.  Because I'm sometimes angry AND Black it seems that I can't catch a break.  Like I can't be angry because I'm Black cuz angry AND Black is a bad, bad thing.

I read Ms. Andrews' story and saw myself in her during some periods of my life and I'm really glad I knew the people I knew then.  I'm glad God saw fit to send the people he DID send my way to me because he knew I needed them and I'm glad that with those people and with my belief that I COULD be better and do better.

I BECAME better.

Ms. Andrews' is only 29 years old.  I was 28 when I decided I needed to stop showing my azz and figure out who and what I wanted to be.  Before I stopped running from the foundation laid out for me by my parents.  Before I stopped turning my back on the hard truths and figured out that if I didn't get my shit together I was going to be alone, lonely and unhappy because no one would want to be around me.

I'm holding out that Ms. Andrews' is going to get her come to Jesus soon and maybe she has already.  From what I understood...she wrote the essays for this book a while ago.

I said all that to say...I thought yall were too hard on her.  If WE can't see ourselves in her and realize how blessed we are to have come through to the other side and be able to empathize with her then hey...who else is going to? 

She represents the young and it's our responsibility to be there for them and lead by example.  That's all I'm saying.

Monica Mingo

Helena Andrews: "Bitch is the New Black"

Single-minded Success

Question...

What are you reading?  Would you recommend?

There is a book for everyone...

I didn't believe someone when they told me there is a coffee table book about boobies and, of course, I asked Mr. Google.  *sigh*  There is:  "The Big Book of Breasts"

Relationship Book

I'm going to write a relationship book entitled "I WISH ROBBY WOULD!" 

What say you? Catchy title?  ROFL! 

SIP:  You are just too dumb for words. 

Hill Harper "The Conversation"...What say you?

What do you think about Hill Harper? Do you think he's cool?  Do you think you'd like him if you met him in real life?  Have you read his book?  Do you have any intention of reading this book?

"The Help" - What I'm Reading

 

"The Help" 

What are YOU reading?  Include a link for us.

WHEN do you read?  I read in bed.  Takes me down slowly.

Books are EXPENSIVE!

I went to Borders today to buy a new book. 

I picked up two new books.

They were $27.50 each.

I put them back.

Walked out the store.

Books are too expensive.

Have YOU been surprised at the cost of books these days?

E. Lynn Harris

By now you know Mr. Harris has died at the age of 54.  I enjoyed most of his books and am sad to see he's gone.

I hope everyone that reads this blog is taking their health seriously.  With advancements we have in medicine and with knowledge we have about nutrition and exercise at our fingertips...there is no reason a person should die in their 50's.

Please take care of yourself.  Fuel your body properly, exercise and go tot he doctor for your yearly physical even if you feel nothing is wrong with you.  Please.

This shouldn't be happening man.  We should be living to see our twilight.

Love,

Monnie

Dominick Dunne

Are you familiar with?

Question...

When and where do you do the majority of your book reading?

Steve Harvey: "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man"

Mr. Harvey wrote a book.  How do I know this you ask?  Is it because I listen to his show?  UM...NO.

It's because one of my girlfriends who told me I could NOT bust her out is at Mr. Harvey's book signing so she can get her copy signed.

She said she'd been reading it and it made a lot of sense.

Mmmmm...okay.

Well, I was on the road and I called another girlfriend and told her we must ex-communicate said girlfriend from the crew.  Then I told her why.  She BURST out laughing and  would NOT believe that Mr. Harvey wrote a relationship book.  I told her to head to Mr. Google.  She did and HOLLARED! 

I suggested she go to Amazon's site and look at the first few pages and read them.  She did and read them out loud to me expecting it to be laugh out loud funny:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0061728977/ref=sib_dp_pt#reader-link

I have to say that I was FULLY prepared to continue to harryazz my girl who went to the book signing about actually BUYING the book but the more I listened...the more I didn't have a problem with what Mr. Harvey was saying.

Now...I'm not buying the book, mind ya...but I ain't gonna bash the concept fo sho.  Maybe his brand of it it all will actually help a lot of women since folks find him entertaining.

Let's just HOPE.

What say YOU?

Suze Orman Free Book Download from Oprah!

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahshow/20081119_tows_bookdownload

Malcolm Gladwell - "Outliers: The Story of Success"

Have you ever wondered how some folks get to be RIDICULOUSLY successful? 

Did you ever wonder if you have what it takes?

What DOES it take?

This book EXPLAINS a lot and gets you to thinking.  You'll say hmmmmmmm every 5th page or so and walk away...sloooowwwwlllyyyyy...shaking your head and wondering.

Or is it plotting?

Might be plotting on how to position yourself just so if indeed it really is basically TIMING.

Good book alert folks.  http://www.amazon.com/Outliers-Story-Success-Malcolm-Gladwell/dp/0316017922/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230403498&sr=1-1

From TIH

Good morning,

Can you ask the Tribe what they are currently reading?? I need some ideas for books as gifts?

Thanks and feel better,
TIH

From Shelly: Book for Children

http://www.amazon.com/Barack-Jonah-Winter/dp/0061703923/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224001111&sr=8-2

Alice Waters: "The Art of Simple Food"

I shall be adding this to the kitchen shelves manana.  http://www.amazon.com/Art-Simple-Food-Delicious-Revolution/dp/0307336794

:)...Nerd Love

Ugh!

That Faith Evans book is some GHETTO CRAP!  It's baked ish over fried ish sauteed with loose ish and Essence magazine got the damn NERVE to be featuring that ish.

I hate people.

Question...

Have you ever bought a self-help book regarding relationships?  Which one if so?  Did you get anything out of it?

From Tanyetta: Dante Moore"s "The Re-Education of the Female"

"Read his book, ladies, and you can snag a catch just like him. Your responsibilities include cooking, staying skinny, wearing sexy things around the house and doing whatever your man tells you to do (because, Moore writes, "Here's a little secret, ladies: men never really ask for anything. They command. . . . And believe me, what you won't do, ten broads around the corner will.")"

What say you?  I ain't saying ISH cuz yall know how much that Zane broad disgusts me and it's of no surprise that she is behind this shit.  Yall keep buying shit like this and I don't want to hear SHIT from anyone about there being nothing of substance to read.  If ya stop BUYING the shit...they will stop PUBLISHING the shit.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/27/AR2008082703400.html

Book Club

Are you a member of a book club? Have you ever been? What did you like about it? Didn't like?

What say you?????????

http://www.amazon.com/Take-Back-Your-Family-Challenge/dp/1592403816/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1219184991&sr=8-1

Roslyn Hardy Holcomb: "Try a Little Tenderness"

Our girl Roslyn who gives the best advice EVER and is always, always, ALWAYS there for any of us who need a reality check is celebrating tonight because her new book has just been released as an eBook for immediate download. I've just bought my copy and can't WAIT to see what Roz has to say this time! I'm not into romance books at all and bought her last book because she's my friend...needless to say...I bought this one because she's a damn good writer!

I love this eBook format too as it's mighty green and only cost me $7.99 AND...I didn't have to leave my sofa and drive somewhere! Whooooohoooo! Thanks for looking out for us Roz!

From Roz:

I know it seems that I've been prattling on endlessly, but I'm so pleased to announce that my newest book, Try A Little Tenderness, is being released today. It's an e-book, which is one of my favorite formats. It appeals to my need for instant gratification in that you simply buy it and download it to your computer (or e-reader, pda, smartphone, etc...). There's something tantalizing about being able to buy a book at anytime and have in your hands instantly. Great for my insomnia. For my bank account? Not so much. 

I hope you like it, and be sure to let me know what you think. Click on the link below to read the blurb and excerpt, and, of course, to buy it. Thank you so much for your support over the years, you don't know how much I appreciate it. Love you all so very much. Roslyn

Try A Little Tenderness <http://www.loose-id.net/detail.aspx?ID=772>

(From Me: Um...yeah...I read the description. Roz wrote it. She's my friend. Roz wrote it. She's my friend. That's it...that's all.)

Did you ever read this book?

Mi Nombre Es...

If you were an author and decided to use a pseudonym to write…what would your pseudonym be?

From Sissy: Omar Tyree

“If the only way I can earn a living now in African-American adult fiction is to sell my people the same poison that they’ve become addicted to, then I quit with my artistic integrity still intact, while moving on to a more progressive mission.”
–Bestselling fiction writer Omar Tyree, in a June 19 column published in The Daily Voice .

Now, if we can only get the remaining 22,482 “urban lit” storytellers to hang up their hats we’ll be onto something.

Books, Books, Books!

What good books are yall reading? Let us know!

Oooooooooooooooooooooooh! JUICY!

http://www.amazon.com/Hiding-Hip-Hop-Entertainment-Industry/dp/1416553398/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208994484&sr=1-1

Yall know Shelly's azz sent this to me. She knows oneblackman is in the music industry. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Question...

Who are your favorite poets?

Question...

What are you reading?

Mr. Ernest J. Gaines

I've always been told that Mr. Ernest J. Gaines is a distant cousin of ours (on my mother's side of the family). I've never known exactly how...it's always just been said he's our cousin. The closest I've ever been to him was in high school. Why? His brother was the janitor of our school. Lemme repeat that. His BROTHER was the JANITOR of our school. *sigh* Louisiana is one HELL of a place to live.

Ernest J. Gaines was born in 1933 on the River Lake plantation in Pointe Coupée Parish, Louisiana, the setting for most of his fiction; he was the fifth generation in his family to be born there. At the age of nine he was picking cotton in the plantation fields; the black quarter's school held classes only five or six months a year.

When he was fifteen, Gaines moved to California to join his parents, who had left Louisiana during World War II. There he attended San Francisco State University and later won a writing fellowship to Stanford University.

Gaines published his first short story in 1956. Since then he has written eight books of fiction, including Catherine Carmier, Of Love and Dust, Bloodline, The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman, A Long Day in November, In My Father's House, and A Gathering of Old Men, most of which are available in Vintage paperback editions. A Lesson Before Dying, his most recent novel, won the 1993 National Book Critics Circle Award. He has also been awarded a MacArthur Foundation grant, for writings of "rare historical resonance."

Gaines divides his time between San Francisco and Lafayette, Louisiana, where he is writer in residence at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He is married to the lawyer Dianne Saulney. Bio Source: http://www.timesbooks.com/vintage/read/lesson/gaines.html

I'm in the process of pulling out some of my CLASSICS. Books that I LOVE by authors I ADORE introduced to me by my father. If it's been a while since you've read one of Mr. Gaines' works...rectify that. It would do us all a bit of good.

"The Almost Moon"

Are you guys going to read Ann Sebold's ("The Lovely Bones") new book?

http://www.amazon.com/Almost-Moon-Novel-Alice-Sebold/dp/0316677469

Reader's Guide - "The Kite Runner"

Aiight folks...these questions are directly from the Reader's Guide in the book.  I guess each of us answer and discussions will follow right?  Or do you think we should do it another way?  Any and all suggestions are helpful...OF COURSE!

I'd like to thank you in advance for participation in this.  This was SUCH a moving book to me and it makes me feel good knowing I have other FABULOUS people to discuss it with!

Just click on the "continue reading" link and it will take you to the questions!

SMOOCHES!

*****P.S.  DO NOT READ THE QUESTIONS OR THE COMMENTS IF YOU HAVEN'T FINISHED THE BOOK OR INTEND TO READ IT!

The Kite Runner

Yall bout ready to talk about the book? How much longer you got left?

Yall wanna read this book with me?

http://www.amazon.com/Kite-Runner-Khaled-Hosseini/dp/1594480001/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-3945111-5877444?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190318835&sr=8-1

I bought this book like FOREVER ago and didn't pick it up.  I'd heard about it when the Post did a book review on it and I was intrigued.  Well...I was on my way to a birthday party and hadn't picked up a gift yet...so I gave them the book.  :)

Then Les read it and then Shelly read it and they kept bugging me to hurry and read it...so I bought it again and am reading it  but they like 8 books past this one now and don't wanna talk about it with me and instead keep saying stuff like..."I told ya."  (Heffas.) 

YALL.....

THIS.BOOK.IS.SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD!

So question...yall wanna read it with me?

"Standing at the Scratch Line" by Guy Johnson

http://www.amazon.com/Standing-Scratch-Line-Novel-Strivers/dp/0375756671
The book yall been sleeping on.

It's very seldom a book jumps out to me and causes me to act on it's behalf. This book however...did.

I read this book years ago. Don't remember how I found it as I was prolly just browsing books shelves and it stood out to me. A Black male hero jumped out at me because it's truly not something we know a lot about. I chose the book PRAYING it would be a good read.

Yall...IT BLEW ME AWAY!

I bought 5 more copies and gave them to friends. Weezy loved it so much he'd call me hollaring..."NOOOOOOOOOOOO INDEED! DID YOU READ THE PART WHEN...."

Me: Um...Weezy...I read the whole book so yeah...I read that part too. LOL!

Yall...I LOVED this book. The sequel was just okay...but this book...you should read it. It was FABULOUS!

HUMPH!

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/324750_harrypotter24.html?source=mypi

CreoleInDC: J.K. Rowling's Puppet

Yup...that's me. J.K.Rowling's Puppet. I finished the book. *sigh* And it's the last one. *sigh*

*sigh*

*sigh*

*sigh*

*sigh*

It was very good. Had my nerves bad. Shelly is on on page four hundred and something so I don't have nobody to talk about it with. *sigh*

And I'm NOT going in them chatrooms with them kids like last time: "Internet 101".

*sigh*

I wonder if she's gonna start a new series? Man...I hope so. Sheesh.

J.K. Rowling...

...is trying to kill me.

I'm convinced she's trying to give me a MASSIVE heart attack. I can't take this! She got my nerves all bad hell! Lawd geevus!

Goodness!

I'm only halfway through because Mercy and I went on an adventure today (Gladys we hope you had a terrible time by the way...LOL!) and I've had to put it down.

Why?

CUZ I'M READING IT TOO FAST AND WHEN IT'S OVER....IT'S OVER!

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Anybody else reading? Where are you? Don't give anything away mind ya.

Harry Potter: Final Chapter

It's 1:18 am and I have my book and am in bed. I've already started reading, of course. Life...in Monnie-land...is FABULOUS! Only flaw was that I'd reserved a special edition but my name wasn't on the list. I wasn't about to leave without a book so I'll take this matter up with someone Monday.

I have to say that Border's had a good system this year. They got us in and out pretty quickly.

Goodnight folks! I'll try to holla manana!

Harry Potter: Part 6

Harry Potter: Part 5 - Muggle Costumes!

Harry Potter: Part 4 - Bathroom Break!

So...I had everything figured out...EXCEPT...what to do when I went to the bathroom so nobody took my table. Me and SIP got into it cuz he was like...nobody was gonna sit at the table long as he was here.

*Crickets*

So I asked one of the folks that had descended upon us earlier to sit at the table for me and left and took a few pics since Honest was all demanding and whatnot. SIP hasn't spoken to me since. I think someone sat on him. :) He all crumpled up looking and mad as hell. ROFL!

This is the damn line to get $4 coffee and $2 cookies. When we got here there was no line. Me smarter than average Muggles. :)

Harry Potter: Part 3 - SIP and the Muggles!

I gotta admit...this damn MacBook is fun as HELL to use! This is from the video camera built into it. ROFL!

Harry Potter: Part 2

Using the camera on my laptop. Pretty cool. This is my expressions as I'm chatting with Tsiporah and the DYNAMICS at my table changes. *sigh*

tsiporah05: you get your book?
CreoleInDC: no
CreoleInDC: not til after midnight
CreoleInDC: it's very entertaining though
CreoleInDC: ROFL
tsiporah05: you gonna stay up that long
CreoleInDC: imma try
tsiporah05: lol
CreoleInDC: or i can go home and come back like i did last time
CreoleInDC: i went home...took a nap
tsiporah05: lol
CreoleInDC: and came back around 1
tsiporah05: see I wouldn't be able to do that
tsiporah05: I would have to stick it out
9:40 PM
CreoleInDC: aw crap
CreoleInDC: just looked down and saw my fly was open
tsiporah05: ?
CreoleInDC: sheesh
tsiporah05: LOL
tsiporah05: I am sure no one noticed
CreoleInDC: haven't gone to the bathroom since i was home
CreoleInDC: lawd geevus
tsiporah05: well....I am sure no one noticed and if so....well so be it
CreoleInDC: lol
CreoleInDC: i got a good parking spot too
CreoleInDC: i might as well try to stay
tsiporah05: where are you
tsiporah05: is it crowded?
CreoleInDC:borders down the street
CreoleInDC: it's a party!
tsiporah05: oh ok
CreoleInDC: lol
CreoleInDC: i'm at a table
tsiporah05: lol
tsiporah05: are people dressed up>?
CreoleInDC: yup
CreoleInDC: lots are
CreoleInDC: not me
tsiporah05: you should have dressed up
CreoleInDC: i was gonna come dressed like a ninja
CreoleInDC: ROFL
tsiporah05: LOL
tsiporah05: that wouldn't have fit the theme
tsiporah05: you should have come as a witch
tsiporah05: lol
CreoleInDC: hell no
CreoleInDC: i'm too cute to be a witch
tsiporah05: lol
tsiporah05: you could have been a cute witch
tsiporah05: dang
CreoleInDC: naw
CreoleInDC: if i was gonna be a witch
CreoleInDC: i'd be wart on the nose kind
CreoleInDC: a SERIOUS witch
tsiporah05: see I would be a cute witch and I would still brew a mean potion
tsiporah05: lol
9:45 PM
CreoleInDC: your potions would be weak
tsiporah05: lol
CreoleInDC: cuz you'd be trying to look in the mirror
tsiporah05: lol
CreoleInDC: everyone knows the ugliest witches make the best potions
tsiporah05: I would steal your dang evil recipes
tsiporah05: lol
CreoleInDC: that's why i'd just be a ninja
CreoleInDC: aw shit
tsiporah05: now what
CreoleInDC: the dude i let sit down at my table
CreoleInDC: his wife and three kids showed up
CreoleInDC: all muggles
CreoleInDC: LOUD muggles
CreoleInDC: sheesh
tsiporah05: LOL
tsiporah05: awww sorry
CreoleInDC: lawd geevus
tsiporah05: are they young kids??
CreoleInDC: lawd geebus...pray for me cuz SIP's here

Harry Potter: Me HERE!

I'm in the third group. The party starts at 9:30 and I got here at like 8:45 and got my bracelet. Trying to figure out if I should go home and return after midnight or just sit it out. It's pretty dang entertaining to say the least. ROFL!

The other two black people and I have made eye contact and done the polite "I see black people" nod. :)

I'm fully equiped. Got my water, snacks, camera, cell, laptop, iPod, book, magazines, a sweater and hand sanitizer. Hey...where there are kids...there are germs.

I'm sitting in one of the coveted seats. Good thing. I THOUGHT I was gonna hafta post up on the floor in a corner somewhere so I wore wash and wear pants. Me was prepared. I was nice enough to let this dude sit at my table seeing as though I'm at a 4 person table and I'm alone. He has a wristband too. I bet his wife sent him to get the books for their kids. We haven't said a word to each other since he sat down. He's reading a book about taxes. (*crickets*)

More black people just showed up.

SIP: Um...please don't wave at them nor do that nod you black people be doing when you're around a lot of white folks.
Me: Why not?
SIP: You're not THEIR kinda people.
Me: Huh?
SIP: Look at the hair. Would YOU leave the house with your hair like that? Would Shelly? Dr. Punkin? Lesley? kbird? Erica B? Monica C? Keelah? Tonya V? to name a few?
Me: Um...no.
SIP: Yeah...unh huh. Avert glance...do NOT look up. You know with your friendly bobbing azz you be done offered them the two empty seats.
Me: mmmm...okay.
SIP: Thank you. It's greatly appreciated. Turn up the the volume on Frankie Beverly, sip that $4 coffee and settle in. Pass me piece of that $2 cookie.

Dumb Question: Harry Potter

Friend:  You going get Harry Potter at midnight Friday?

Me:  HELL YEAH!  I might even wear my damn crimson and gold striped shirt!

Friend:  (crickets)

Me:  What?  Think I'm shamed?  Hell no!  I'd push an 8 year old out the way and trip a 9 year old down bruh for my Harry Potter.  I got the limited edition one too.

Friend:  *sigh*

Me:  (mumbling)  Betta recognize hell!  SOUF SIDE! (two pumps to the chest following quickly with peace sign)

___________________________________________ Jennifer: i pre-ordered a thousand years ago figure i'll get it on saturday or monday CreoleInDC: i pre-ordered to pick up in store intend on being finished monday lol Jennifer: you are funny CreoleInDC: i got my pickup cert. in the mail Jennifer: very exciting CreoleInDC: and my backpack will be packed with snacks water ipod book magazine and cell phone oh...and cash in case i need to bribe my way to the top of the line Jennifer: you are too cute

Looking for a good read...

I'm all outta options folks.  Currently, I have no book on the deck and am just waiting patiently for Stephen Carter's book and the new Harry Potter.  BUT THAT'S A MONTH AWAY!

So...I thunk on it and I was like...SELF...ask them FABULOUS people who comment on the site what they are reading as I'm sure it's something good!

That said...please Family...help ya girl out.  Whatcha reading?  If you include the Amazon link to it...I'd be most appreciative so my lazy butt only has to click and scan.  ROFL!

Thank you in advance!