New Post Up at the Last Mag Standing...

aka Honey Magazine. Actually, there's two, if you haven't been on in awhile. Can you tell I'm still a lil salty about Vixen? Just a smidget. Anyway, check out the post in the your leisure and don't forget about the mag giving everyone a run for their money...Clutch!

THANK YOU FOR NOT SMOKING

Alisha

What is the World Coming To?

So for those of you didn't know, I was trying (extremely hard) to break into the print magazine world. Via Vibe Vixen. I had a strong contact there and was in the process of pitching story ideas. Well, me and my nosey self---after sending my pitches and getting no response, which was unlike the contact---snooped around the Internet, to find that the contact was exiting the publication as editor. Check out Mastheads.org to get the dirt on enter/exits in mags, btw.

Hmm...interesting. Is it true? Is she gone? Taking my dreams of having an article in print in an urban mag for fab chicks like myself and you, of course? Maybe. I emailed the editorial assistant. No luck.

Now look what's happened! Read it and weep because I damn sure am!

http://the-b-life.blogspot.com/

While you're at it, sign the petition to bring Suede Magazine back, too!

This is dispicable (sp?). Whatever, it's a mess. There are 1,001 mags for Caucasian, Latina and whoever else. Why can't we have ours. Essence is hot, but what about the younger demographic??

The Things You See on Main Street

I knew it was a matter of time before I saw something completely out of order. This is what I saw. In Outkast's words, "this is just my interpretation...of the situation. Ya'll go on and marinate on that for a minute."

Today I decided to step out of my lunch box and go the other way down Main Street. I really wanted some fudge chocolate chip cookies, so I walked to Subway. What a pleasant surprise, I ran into one of my pumpkins, one of our youth at church. She has a summer internship downtown. Who knew? Anyway...

Sitting by the window, eating lunch with her, I see a small crowd of men by the trolley stop. No big deal right? No sooner than I could blink my eye, this guy is mugging this other guy in the face hard as hell! They were pushing and shoving each other. My church member said maybe they were just playing. Uh, how about no? You don't push a man in the face "for play." It was the weirdest thing ever. Like they were fighting by the trolley stop with hundreds of people around. The elderly folks coming out of Easy Way Produce, the businessmen and women in their power suits...ME! You know I was laughing. Killing myself laughing to be exact. Sometimes it's rather unfortunate that I find humor in just about everything. And I don't even know what was really going on.

What was even crazier, it looked as if one of the guys was homeless and he was fighting mad because these other guys tried to take his bag. A brown paper bag and plastic. I have no idea what was in that bag, but when I saw the other guys pulling the red skin off slices of bologna, making "baloney and cracker" sandwiches, I figured why he was hot. Don't take a man's food. Period.

A few minutes passed. Back to lunch with lil mama. I look up again and the homeless guy is tearing this dude up. I mean, rolling on the ground, choking, punching. A drag-out fight! It was so sudden, it was funny. Eventually, someone at the trolley stop pulled the homeless guy off of dude. They walked away, but he was still running toward him, gesturing as if to say "come on wit it!"

I don't know what kind of bologna that was, but it must have been damn good.

"This is just my interpretation of the situation."

Skulls Confirm We Are All Out of Africa

Read it!!!

http://clutchmagonline.com/

Updates

I only have 1.5 hours until I blow this joint. This week has been jam packed. Let's see...I began another class series this week and completed a follow-up session today. I started two online classes in investing yesterday. Whew! I am soooo ready for the weekend. Last night I hung out with a friend for her birthday. Sushi and a free set. I'm tired, but I can't stop. Immediately after work, I'm going to Swig's martini bar for a live music set a friend (the singer) invited me to. Then after that, I'm embarking on the unthinkable....A DATE.

Yeah, you heard me right. A date. With whom, you ask? A youngin (literally) whom my friend and I have named 8 Out of 10 (8/10). You know how I feel about aliases. Eight out of ten criteria that make it damn near too good to be true to be dating someone. Four of the criteria I have clearly added as they revealed themselves through meeting him and the required "fill out-conversation." The other four are the basics: (1) job, (2) car, (house/apt.) and (4) no children. This is in no particular order.

So you know I'm thinking, "Hmmmmm, what's really going on?" You are too, right?

I'm not trying to set myself up. He's a cool dude, so we can hang out. Nothing serious. I don't think me and my issues are ready for anything other that. So in the meantime, I'll enjoy this fresh, new company I've acquired.

Tomorrow my friends and I are going to see the love of my life in the comedy arena. Mike Epps. How I love him so. He is the cutest thing ever. And jokes can get you far with me (don't take that the wrong way). I'm just saying. He is hot. I can't wait.

These are the clips from All About the Benjamins that just kill me every time!

Ying Yang

Okay, let's see if I can consense this into one post. Probably not, but anyway...let's go over the good and bad

The Good
Last week, I had my first celebrity interview with guess who... Teedra Moses! If you've been reading this blog long enough, you know that she is the underrated artist that I've been stalking for two years. LOL! She was so cool and down-to-earth. It wasn't even like an interview. It was just like I was talking to a friend. Cool chick, indeed! Look for it in Clutch's September issue.

This has nothing to do with me directly, but it is an inspiration. Dede Sutton, founder and publisher of Clutch is working on the mag full-time and even has her own marketing PR biz on the side. Now THAT'S what I'm talking about.

Thanks to everyone who commented on That Thing. I'm really tripping that other people feel the same way I do. Work in progress...

This is the BIG ONE:
My daddy came to church yesterday!! It doesn't sound like much to you maybe, but it was a milestone in my family. Someone who probably hadn't stepped foot in a church for "regular" service in more than 10-15 years finally kept his word and came to worship. And he enjoyed it. I know that it was simply God working on his own time. I never wanted Daddy to go to church because it was the "right" thing to do or because Mama and I attend. I just knew that all the things that he's dealing with or going through would be better. Even if the situation never got better, he'd be able to cope better. His faith would be increased.

So there he was, sitting next to my Mama and even waving his hand and saying "Thank You, Jesus." Wow. I was so proud.

In addition to that, it was so good to see him and Mama together. She was so happy to have her husband next to her. Finally people who had never seen "him" could put a face to a name and stop asking me if I have a father! lol. That's what she'd been wanting for a long time. I like to see her happy.

My best friend from home is getting "the ring." THE ring. Yeah! I am truly happy for her.

My second article is up at VibeVixen.com. Check it out.

The Bad

I said it once; I'll say again. The world is waayyy too small. That's all I'm going to say about that.

I have not posted on Honey in ages, thanks to non-saving Wordpress. I gotta get my game up.

I think my computer crashed on Saturday. The power went out in the apartment and the computer was on. When the power came back on, the computer was on the blink. Just a black screen with a blinking cursor at the top. I'm getting no act-right. I'm pretty sick about it, but all of my important files are on CD.

Must be karma for all that Limewire downloading.

That Thing

So I was reading a post on B's Purple World just now. She said to cherish the people you have in your life and tell them that you love them. Even if you don't like to say all the mushy stuff, say it. You never know how it will make them feel. That's not it verbatim, but the "mushy" part is. That's when I decided to blog about my new found issue: emotional block.

I had been debating about whether I should blog or journal my feelings on this subject. Either way, it would written down because that's my issue: I can't say how I feel! Rather, it's hard to say certain things to certain people. And I have no idea why.

It came to me the other morning that I am going to have to deal with not being an open person in relationships. Romantic relationships. A platonic friend--I can say whatever, whenever, however--no holds barred. Someone else--it almost kills me to say how I feel, whether it be about their looks, personality. Whatever I like about them. Crazy as hell I know. Where is Dr. Phil when I need him? What's even crazier is I am a firm believer in showing emotion, giving compliments, etc.--for other people. I don't take my own advice though. I know that everyone needs to feel wanted, appreciated and valued. What's a better way than telling them that?

Likewise, it's difficult for me accept emotional exchange, affection, compliments. I do accept it, but I'm thinking, "okay, what do I say to that?" It's the silliest, yet saddest thing I've seen yet. But I already knew this about myself.

Coincidentally, just last night I was told that I have or show the emotion of a rock by someone close to me. That hurt. I didn't think it was that bad. What the hell does a rock do? Nothing, but just sit there. They serve no purpose whatsoever, unless you're kicking them. Damn, that hurt. I did express that feeling, atleast. This coming from someone is clearly on the opposite end of the spectrum in this regard. Everything is laid out on the table (with tact).

I've been praying about it, too. I know that God will make a change in me. Last night in Bible Study, my teacher said that whatever issues that we have, we can be changed and comforted through God's Word. We sang "Falling in Love With Jesus (is the best thing I've ever done)" by Jonathan Butler (my fav!) for devotion. I believe that.

About Time I Can Post Titles/Random Tuesday

Okay, I was getting worried. In the past couple of posts, I couldn't type in the title space. Ugh!! Posts look weird without titles. Anyway,on to the randomness.

My life is a broken record. Why must I go down that road again?

Why does Sonic Drive-in have handicapped drive-in spots? I mean, who's walking into Sonic? It's a drive-in. The employees walk, not the customers.

I want to slap the hell out of Larissa and her mama! We don't know better because our mamas and daddies don't raise us right. She has a lot of anger. Go get some help, Larissa!

My class follow-up was cancelled. I'm glad because it's raining and I'm still sleepy.

I got another email from a reader. Check out Ketrice at Fab Vixen.

I'm trying to add blogs to the blogroll, but they're not showing up.

When is Erykah Badu going to hit a city near me???? Teedra??? Jazmine? Where are you?

I'm still hating on everyone who went to Essence. Next year, baby!

An old co-worker emailed me about a dinner the job is having tomorrow. Thanks for the invitation, but I don't really want to go. I don't feel like answering questions. How are you? Do you like your job? How much money you making these days (no class!)Whatever!

Sometimes, staying is house and watching movies with good friends is waaayyyy better than going out.

I could slap Fantasia! I shed tears listening to her sing I'm Here. Umph!

That's it for now... peace.

Here's something that I can admit that I'm not proud of. I don't keep up with the news nearly as much as I should. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know. I was a journalism major and an aspiring writer. I was once a regular in the newsroom of my college newspaper, The Digest (feel free to do a search on me). Why don't I keep up with the current events?

I don't know. I watch the local news either when I'm getting dressed for work or before I go to bed. But it's so damn depressing. Yet, I still have to know what's going on? I watch CNN when there's breaking news or something really catches my eye. I've made a vow to myself (all of five minutes ago)to tune into the news daily, several times a day, if possible. It's a must that I stay informed.

But there is another reason why I'll be tuning into CNN news more often....

T.J. HOLMES

About a month ago, I saw this man on the Situation Room, but of course, they never flashed his name across the screen. The co-anchor never said his name. All I knew was this man was sexy as...well, you get the point. I recently found out that he's the anchor that Chilli was dating! Hey, girl-I know you look the exact same as you did in the Baby Baby Baby video, but leave our youngins alone.

I've been googling and Youtubing T.J. Holmes all morning after seeing him in the latest YBF post. Sexy and intelligent. And he's a Southern boy--from the University of Arkansas, to be exact. Check the smile. I'm in love.

Something about a black man....

I hear what sounds like children screaming. Then boom..boom! I run to the window and see small children dressed in swimsuits and towels running. A man going hysterical, screaming out. What the hell is going on?Then one after another, police cars pull up. Six of them, followed by an ambulance. People are coming out of their homes, standing in the street. Suddenly, I'm able to see who those cars next to mine everyday belong to. Two news vans arrive on the scene. Police are wrapping yellow tape around trees and

A young woman, 28 and a mother of two was killed by her ex-boyfriend, who just released for a domestic violence charge. She'd only be living there for three weeks with her uncle, as an escape from the boyfriend. Right there, in broad daylight, 4:30 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, with children outside, he killed her and drove off.

Why? What about the children? Her family and friends? Her life?

It hasn't bothered me as much until now, as I am typing on this keyboard. It's so unfair to decide the fate of someone else's life. You have no right. As soon as I went back into my apartment, I immediately prayed for that's young woman's soul. That she be receieved into heaven. I prayed for the ex-boyfriend, that God has mercy on him. Right now, he's on the run by foot, after crashing his white vehicle that I'd seen so many times in the parking lot.

This is a true story.

Surprises...Pleasant and Not So Pleasant

The past couple of days have been filled with surprises. Some of them were those "oh wow, look at that!" surprises and others were "aw damn!" surprises. What can you do though? Take them for what they are. Here are mine.:

Pleasant:
Yesterday, I got my first email about the blog from a reader:

My name is Tasha Sanders*, and I just really felt the need to e-mail you to let you know that I love your writings. I'm an aspiring journalist at The University of Tennessee (I'm from Memphis) and I came across your Beehive weblog as well as Quarterlife Mocha Girl and I just felt the need to tell you that.

Awww, that was so inspiring and encouraging! I email people, too! I never thought I'd actually get one. And I coincidentally found her on Facebook today, too.

Signing the prayer request log (Lord knows, I need prayer) on the Myspace B.A.P.S. page, I found fellow blogger, JCroft! Small world!

One of my best friends is coming home this weekend. Yeah!

Anzeo's lame, coward, prima dona, cat hair stuck in my throat ___ is off MTB 4. Were you really that shocked?

Not So Pleasant:
I thought my co-worker and I would be the only two in the office today. So obviously, I was going to leave early. After arriving TWO hours late,just in time for a meeting, I saw that both of my supervisors were at work. What happened to "I'm off the rest of the week"? I guess they have a right to change their minds...

The ex-"friend" whom I swore off as of 2.5 years ago spills his guts about "really liking" me and thinking that we should be seriously dating now in the privacy of a super-packed club-- by the bar-no less. I knew I shouldn't have taken him up on the offer for a drink, but I couldn't pass up the apple martini. Am I a cocktail whore?

After tormenting myself over whether or not call him and start things back up, I remembered why I cut him off. Not sure I could deal with that foolery. I even tried to justify it by saying that maybe this time around, he could be serious. People can change, right? And he was young (older than me) back then. Don't block God's blessing, right? Wrong answer. As usual, I didn't have a kosher feeling about the situation, no matter how much I tried to micro-analyze it. In attempt to hustle a date and some quick male companionship, I would only be playing myself--MAJORLY. It's not even worth the drama that would be soon to come.

I went ahead and called for kicks. If it's supposed to be, atleast I put forth an effort. No answer, no call-back. The next day, I get a VM from him saying, "this is Dude, someone called me from this number. I was just returning the phone call." Oh really? So you just went straight deaf when I said my name on my VM greeting? Right. Don't try to play me to the left, dude. Beat it.

I never returned the phone call. Why bother? But thanks for the interest.

As if that wasn't crazy enough. Whenever I'm dealing with an issue with a guy and I can't decide what to do, to avoid the situation terrible, I know!), I prefer to deal with another guy. You know, all of sudden it's like, hmmm, I wonder what so-and-so is up to? Knowing good and well, neither of us gives a good damn about each other.

So, that's what I did concerning the guy above and lo and behold, The Friend texted me at 8 a.m. the very next morning!I opened that phone and saw the name...say it ain't so. What do YOU want? I thought him up. So now I have ESP? Reminiscing over text messages is not what's hot. Dude, you have a special place in my heart, but I can't even deal with you right now. Again, I say...beat it.

What could happen next?

What Do You Want to Read About?

What is it about the couple of days before a holiday break that make you want to tear your eyelids out one by one because you have to be at work? The Fourth being on Wednesday is NOT what's hot. The holiday should be celebrated on a Friday, no matter when the 4th falls. But don't sleep, I still have work to do. And I'm gonna do it.

Last night I cried...over the Flavor of Love Charm School finale! Yeah, sitting in bed, wiping my face with my shirt because I refused to get my lazy self out the bed to get Kleenex, I cried. That Saphyri...umph. When she fell the floor thanking God, ya'll know that got me. I really wanted Shay to win, but when she was eliminated, oh well. If anything, as long as they got that horrible rainbow, frizzed out weave out of her head, she received a TRUE blessing. Wow.

I'm back on my writing game already. After I posted on Friday, I made some moves-well, my mouse did. I emailed some people, and now I'm about pitch stories left and right for a paying gig. I write about everything but fashion and beauty. Features and informative articles. These pitches are going to urban magazines targeting young women. Ladies (the few who read), what are some things you'd like to read about besides the regular stuff? Give me some ideas. I want to make sure I'm on the right track.

I got something else to vent about, but it deserves a post of its own.

Ciao'

In a Clutch

The new issue of Clutch is up! Check it out.