Love Atlanta Style

Love, Atlanta Style takes place in the graceful city of Atlanta. It follows the lives of four intricate and particularly distinct women as they work through domestic struggles and family life. During their setbacks, they face secrets, unlawful acts and dubious concealed mysteries of their own. Yet, they continue to display a seemingly beautiful and so-called perfect life. Love Atlanta Style will begin airing September 2ND then every Friday thereafter on facebook.com/loveatlantastyle and www.TPN1.com

I watched the first two episodes and then the promo. I'll be honest the first episode was just OK, intriguing enough to make me want to keep watching but I feel the cast really began to gel by episode two. Episode 2 was not only well acted but much better written then the first episode and left me wanting more, so much so that I watched the season promo which gave snippets of future episodes. All I can say is between episode two and the promo I will be a regular fan of this series and am dying to see what's next. The season promo also revealed that celebrities like The Monique Show's Rodney Perry and legendary, Hollywood, Stunt Woman & Action Actress Jwaundace Candece will be appearing in episodes this season. I love anything homegrown and this ATL show made by Atlantans for Atlantans is a must see.

Just Like That

And just like that we are splitsville. Ladies here me on this, you've experienced this one before. You can no longer please him for some reason, he's so busy that you guys just can't seem to get together so you try and end it because you're bored with the relationship and are tired of being put on the back burner, he begs you to forgive him and promises to do better, so you let him squirm his way back in. Then out of the blue one day you say something that should only slightly annoy him at most and he loses his s*!t and dumps you. Of course you have no proof but you know this move, you've seen it before. The old I have another girl and that's the real reason I've been neglecting you but I must figure out a way to make it look like the breakup is all your fault move. Yup ladies, I just fell for that one, AGAIN! Just to add insult to injury read the blog I wrote just before this one, entitled "Can't Sleep".

Can't Sleep

I don't know why I can't sleep, I had a long day. Thank God for my Mom, she walked Drake to school for me this morning so I could get to my 8am class on time. Once I left school I ran some errands to kill some time before meeting my boyfriend to get in a few precious moments of time with our crazy schedules.
We both got so caught up with our day we literally only saw each other waving across the tracks to each other at the Marta (Atlanta public transit) station, headed in different directions. Don't worry, we may have been headed in different directions today but we are most certainly on track in our relationship, it's taken me a moment to adjust to his new busy schedule but I'm being a better girlfriend and am no longer allowing my past to effect my present. I think I was slightly insecure and for sure mistrusting of him before, not because of anything he did but because of the emotional trauma of my past relationships. I'm better now, I love him and he's so patient with me, neither of us are perfect but we're perfect for each other.
Once I got on the train, I don't drive, I headed over to the sports shop to replace Drake's cleats, I had the wrong size. On the way home I ran into an old friend and discussed some business concepts he was working on, he's looking for full time work until his passion shows some fruit so I referred to someone I knew was hiring. I was also glad to here he had gotten full custody of his kids, something I knew he had been working had at. Once I boarded the bus I met a young SCAD photography student and we exchanged information as I never cease networking, not even on the Marta bus. I got off the bus and picked Drake up from school, I was happy to see his teacher had returned to school after suffering a loss in her family. I walked him home, pleased with his report of the day by his teacher stating he was a stellar student. I allowed him to watch TV, something he hasn't been able to do since he was grounded for misbehaving in school last week. We both had a quick bite and I pulled together all of his soccer practice materials.
We went to assessment day for his soccer league where he performed impeccably, I of course immediately text my boyfriend, who although he's not Drake's biological father, is always proud of Drake's accomplishments. Also on the field was the joy of being one of the Senior soccer Moms. This is his third season, so I know most of the coaches and almost all of the returning parents, Moms and Dads. I introduced people around, greeted the new parents, welcomed them into the fold and enjoyed a fun, sunny, day out on the field. On the way home I chatted with the widow of my friend Ron, their daughter is playing and I'm always glad to see them smiling seeing as how Ron passed earlier this year, it's still a shock to my system to acknowledge he's gone, I'm sure I could never understand how his family feels.
Once we got home I fixed Drake's dinner plate and then helped him with his homework. I ran his bath water and watched a little of America's Got Talent while he had his tub time. Once he was out I read his bedtime story and tucked him in.
I had some homework I could be doing but I was too tired to do it. I decided to put it off till tomorrow. My phone rang, cool, it's my sweetheart. I chat with him for a while, which totally makes me happy and I hang up with a smile.
I answer a bunch of business emails and check my beloved Facebook. Now here I sit 2am, unable to fall asleep. Sleep, please, come soon.

It's 1:34pm

I woke up this morning at 6:30am, got my son ready for school and prepared his breakfast. I walked him to school, arriving at 7:45am and consoled his teacher who had just had a death in her family. I promised the para pro (secondary teacher in his class) I would come back at 9:15 am to read to the kids so she could catch up and get organized as his lead teacher left due to the aforementioned death in her family. On the way out of the school I scheduled a meeting with the school Librarian for 9:3o, to follow my story time. I walked back home, fixed my breakfast and scheduled myself a dental appointment. I went through my son's vast book collection and found the most entertaining read alouds. During the walks to and from the school I discussed some business concepts with my partner LaShunda Simpson of PPE (the film production company I own with her and Angela Dobbs). After disconnecting from her I sent a sweet nothing to my significant other, Greg Wright, that's right ladies, I am both literally and figuratively dating Mr. Right. I get to the school at exactly 9:15am and read to the kids until 9:30am. Upon completion of my story time I head over to the school's Media Center for my meeting with the Librarian. She and I discuss the many ways the programs I work with at The Little Shop of Stories can benefit both parties and I negotiate a booth at the school literacy festival in October at no cost to me. I leave the school and come home where I work out with my shake weight then get on-line to promote my other business The Learning Groove. One barter-tactic leads to me getting a free ad on a popular Mommie site that caters directly to the area where I teach my Learning Groove classes. I then respond to the sweet nothing my honey bunny has sent me and go back to promoting my Fall Classes. I look at the clock, it's 1:34pm, my day has just begun. I still have to go by the bank, buy Drake (my 5yo son) new soccer cleats, pick Drake up from school, come home and fix him a snack, do my homework (I'm in college full time at the Art Institute), take him to his first soccer practice for the fall season, prepare dinner, help him with his homework, finish my homework, put him in the tub, clean and then call my honey bunny, who's working 12hrs today at his job, and wish him a good night. I'm not complaining, just explaining.

Long day 2day, classes from 8 to 3:50, work from 4 to 9 then Harry Potter at 1am, that's kinda what this entire week has been like.

Leaving a live taping of Family Feud, now headed 2 a screening of FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS after that spending the night cuddling with my honey

Went to a screening of Horrible Bosses last week & it's released tomorrow, it's hilarious, a perfect date film, both parties will enjoy it.

Direction

.

It's funny how a simple part time job can give you all the direction you need. I was unemployed after I took some time off to get my health in order, so along my job search I applied for a part time job at Little Shop of Stories, an independent kid's bookstore in Decatur Square. Well I was hired, It led to me teaching The Learning Groove, an infant and toddler music and movement class, where I am mentored by national children's music performers Mr. Eric & Mr. Michael, Mr. Eric is also the author of the nationally bestselling picture book Pete The Cat. It also led to the opportunity to teach some awesome summer camps; Acting Out and Heroes and Villains. Not to mention becoming totally bookish and meeting some book legends and power players in the local and national book worlds. Being in the square every day working this job helped me decide to return to school, the nearest school was the Art Institute, where I now attend studying Animation. A part time job has showed me that I love working with kids, something I only vaguely knew with no proof of experience until now. I've worked at kid facilities like Mighty Jumps but never had to really interact with kids until now. It became such a controlling force in my laugh that my partners and I at my start-up film production company have decided to focus on making kid movies, which my animation degree won't hurt in.

All this happiness with my work made me feel better which made me look better and I was able to snag a hot new boyfriend who is as kind as his fine.

Thanks for the direction Little Shop.

So what's next, should I write a picture book or middle school chapter book? I guess only time will tell.

At church, gotta go home and prepare Sunday dinner then head down to Little Shop & prepare for Heroes and Villains Camp that begins this week.

I may be flawed but I'm uniquely me, I'm fearless and wonderfully made.

Just finished work, headed home to start writing for a powerhouse project.

....all in all yesterday was a good day, last but not least my boyfriend was as understanding of my crazy schedule as he always is.

Now today, today has been a horse of a different color, It started well enough but I got a little frazzled as I headed to work.

I do have special plans this evening with my sweetheart so I see a better day ahead :-)

....there I met up with @chesire16 & the rest of the girls for Screen on the Green wich showed Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory...

....he interviewed @officialallycarter & it went awesome! Next I bolted to piedmont park....

......once I had my son, I raced back to Little Shop to be there for the first author interview done by one of our Galley Club kids....

Yesterday was crazy, worked, then had a business lunch with @vlc_photo, then ran off to pick up my son......

On the way to meet my honey at the Tara to see a screening of Page One (documentary)

Just met Candace Bushnell, that's right, Ms. SEX AND THE CITY. She was amazing!

Woke up this morning to some of the sweetest text messages from my perfect boyfriend.

The Bronzelens Film Festival is pleased to join AFFRM (African American Film Festival Releasing Movement) in presenting the Atlanta-area theatrical release of the film "I WILL FOLLOW", starring Salli Richardson-Whitfield, Omari Hardwick, Blair Underwood and Beverly Todd.

I received the above email and thought, why not, I'm an indie filmmaker, I should support this. Boy was I in for a surprise. I purchased two tickets for myself and my best friend Ciara, owner of Sublime Catering, and we attending the 8:05pm showing at Phipps Plaza. When we arrived we discovered we were fortunate enough to be at the showing where the actor Omari Hardwick of the film, a Georgia native, would be doing not only an introduction for the film but a Q&A afterwards. What a treat! Then the film came on.

An amazing tell of love and loss. We've all been here, trying to pick up the pieces after a close death in the family. The film brilliantly weaves together the affects of one woman's death from the perspective of her caregiver. Her Hollywood niece who dropped everything, her career and her man to tend to her favorite aunt. Of course no matter what you do there is always someone around to tell you what you should have done, enter the aunt's daughter. A roller coaster ride of emotions are unfolded with elegance and grace. A universal tale anyone can enjoy.

I'M LOVING IT

I'm loving it, my life that is. Big changes have come for me, I'm no longer letting love beat the hell out of me or being unwise as to who my haters are. I realized I had some people in my life who needed to go away and poof now they are gone.

Look at what I came into the new year with already, I started back to school at the Art Institute, got Drake enrolled in basketball, completed a film short, found a job I love, got rid of a man that didn't love me and had some new business opportunities present themselves.
Ba Ba Ba Ba I'M LOVING IT!